Subject:
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Re: Treacleheads (was Re: Sticking it to Todd (was Re: Clones Database))
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.loc.au, lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Wed, 8 Nov 2000 18:55:34 GMT
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Viewed:
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58 times
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In lugnet.loc.au, Matthew Miller writes:
> Dave Low <stinglessbee@hotSPAMFREEmail.com> wrote:
> > 2. A usage that is wrong on the grounds of grammar, law and aesthetics.
> > Do you say "I like fasts reds cars"? or "I like to drink Cokes"? (this one
> > might be okay if you're a severe caffeine addict)
>
> It's wrong, but not for that reason. It's wrong because it's an adjective,
> and adjectives don't really have plurals. But in popular usuage, it's a
> noun, and there's no reason for it to not have a regular plural. And people
> do say "I drank a couple of cokes." :)
Thank you Matthew. And because I've had two hours sleep in about forty I'll
just point out that 1. fast and red are in fact adjectives, hence the first
example, and 2. Coke is a trademark and a proper noun (like LEGO) hence the
second example. You might notice that I'm aware that some people might drink
more than one (can/glass/bottle) of Coke, and then say "I drank a couple of
Cokes" or if they're particularly stupid "I like to drink Cokes". That's
because, IMHO, a Coke as a synonym for a (can/glass/bottle) of Coke is a
usage that is both popular and appropriate. <engage grumpy old bastard mode>
But just because a usage is poular, doesn't mean it's right.
Hmmm. Ritvik calls its product "Mega-Bloks". So people say "Let's play with
our Mega-Bloks!" And that's fine. I wonder when it got stuck in people's
heads that although the product was called "LEGO", what they were playing
with was "Legos". Was some little child too lazy to say "Lego bricks"? Did
they want more than just "Lego" they wanted "LegoS!!!"? (Just meming off
into the distance... )
--Dave
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