|
Post by goofy on Jun 10, 2008 20:15:34 GMT
"Data" is used as a plural noun like "earnings" and as a noncount noun taking a singular verb. When? Patently not universally true. no, not universally true, but standard according to my favourite book.
|
|
|
Post by Tone on Jun 10, 2008 20:35:49 GMT
>but standard according to my favourite book<This would be a book that you wrote yourself? Tone
|
|
|
Post by Geoff on Jun 10, 2008 22:18:19 GMT
This would be a book that you wrote yourself? Tone, goofy did define his 'favourite book' by way of a link.
|
|
|
Post by Vadim on Jun 11, 2008 7:15:36 GMT
When? Patently not universally true. no, not universally true, but standard according to my favourite book.Thanks for the link, goofy. If this book contains expressions like this, I just have to have it!
|
|
|
Post by Pete on Jun 11, 2008 19:39:07 GMT
Merriam-Webster has been cited a number of times on this site. How authoritative is it? Obviously goofy is very keen but how do others feel? Are there better books?
I am thinking of buying an English language reference and I am looking for something that covers British English and other variants and which is acknowledged as being reasonably authoritative. Obviously, no single tome will be right every time (especially not with the range of opinions from the people who post here), so I am not looking for a 'bible' of English.
|
|
|
Post by goofy on Jun 11, 2008 19:53:30 GMT
The advice in MWDEU is informed by evidence from usage, which means they usually recommend a usage if it is common and used by respected writers. They are good at summarizing the opinions of other usage commentators, and if other usage commentators don't like something, they say so.
Some people think it's too "permissive" or doesn't offer enough guidance.
|
|
|
Post by Paul Doherty on Jun 11, 2008 20:19:59 GMT
Yes, I agree with that. If you want something both prescriptive and authoritative for British use, I reckon you can't beat the Oxford Guide to Style (sometimes found bound with the Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors as the one-volume Oxford Style Manual). Oxford Guide to StyleOxford Style ManualI think the Oxford Style Manual was also published (as the Oxford Manual of Style) as a book club edition, possibly. Oxford Manual of Style
|
|
|
Post by Tone on Jun 11, 2008 20:58:21 GMT
Geoff, > by way of a link<
And how was that indicated? I'm sorry, but I can only read the words that appear on my VDU. Do you have extra powers unavailable to us podeans?
Tone
|
|
|
Post by Tone on Jun 11, 2008 21:02:16 GMT
Oh, now I see. The "favourite book" is a foreign book!
Tone
|
|
|
Post by Pete on Jun 11, 2008 21:56:07 GMT
Yes, I agree with that. If you want something both prescriptive and authoritative for British use, I reckon you can't beat the Oxford Guide to Style (sometimes found bound with the Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors as the one-volume Oxford Style Manual). Oxford Guide to StyleOxford Style ManualI think the Oxford Style Manual was also published (as the Oxford Manual of Style) as a book club edition, possibly. Oxford Manual of StylePaul, many thanks. Amazing that the Guide to Style is £75 by itself but the combined Style Manual is only £17.50. I shall order one shortly but any further suggestiions from other colleagues would be gratefully received.
|
|
|
Post by Paul Doherty on Jun 11, 2008 22:05:37 GMT
The OGS is out of print, so I guess you're seeing "collectable" prices. The Oxford Manual of Style is only £7.50 secondhand on Amazon -- that's what I'd buy. Reference books are going to get well-used anyway, so I don't usually feel the need for a pristine copy.
|
|
|
Post by Vadim on Jun 12, 2008 7:28:34 GMT
The OGS is out of print, so I guess you're seeing "collectable" prices. The Oxford Manual of Style is only £7.50 secondhand on Amazon -- that's what I'd buy. Reference books are going to get well-used anyway, so I don't usually feel the need for a pristine copy. Thanks for the helpful information, Paul, goofy. I have just ordered the for I'm sure it will help me no end throughout these final writing up stages.
|
|
|
Post by Pete on Jun 12, 2008 17:54:00 GMT
The OGS is out of print, so I guess you're seeing "collectable" prices. The Oxford Manual of Style is only £7.50 secondhand on Amazon -- that's what I'd buy. Reference books are going to get well-used anyway, so I don't usually feel the need for a pristine copy. Thanks for the helpful information, Paul, goofy. I have just ordered the for I'm sure it will help me no end throughout these final writing up stages. I decided to buy a new one, as well as a couple of other books, about London, another of my interests. And a Bob Marley CD, as you do!
|
|
|
Post by Vadim on Jun 12, 2008 18:22:59 GMT
As you do indeed!
I must have lost an hour of my time looking at Amazon with the style guide sat in my virtual-basket. I then proceeded to order a 3 disk set of the Jason Bourne films for fathers day, a book on grinding (no, not that sort of grinding - Sue - Dave et al.), and a copy of "The Encyclopedia of Fishing" -it was on special! ;D
Those places are addictive!
|
|
|
Post by Pete on Jun 12, 2008 19:01:44 GMT
As you do indeed! I must have lost an hour of my time looking at Amazon with the style guide sat in my virtual-basket. I then proceeded to order a 3 disk set of the Jason Bourne films for fathers day, a book on grinding (no, not that sort of grinding - Sue - Dave et al.), and a copy of "The Encyclopedia of Fishing" -it was on special! ;D Those places are addictive! Yes! I bought the Jason Bourne set for my wife on our recent anniversary (it was on her Amazon Wish List). We sat through all 3 at our local indie cinema a few months ago, took a 'picnic' for the breaks, great fun!!
|
|