English Language Discussion Forums

makaveli · #1 12-Sep-2003, 12:33

Hi all,

A chap at work said this yesterday and once I had questioned it's validity, it sparked quite a debate!!!!!!

"He has been getting late of late".

Is this ok? Just clumsy, or a definite 'between you and I' NO NO :wink:

Many thanks

dduck · #2 12-Sep-2003, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by makaveli

"He has been getting late of late".

Is this ok? Just clumsy, or a definite 'between you and I' NO NO :wink:

Can't see anything wrong with it myself. I guess it means "Recently, he's been arriving late".

Iain

**RonBee** · #3 12-Sep-2003, 18:02

The typical English phrase is he has been getting in late. Thus, the sentence would be: "He has been getting in late of late."

*its validity*

Does that help?

:)

makaveli · #4 13-Sep-2003, 01:18

Yes,

many thanks I was concerned because the statement already mentions him getting late, that the second use i.e. 'of late' was rather superfluous and broke some sort of rule.

thanks for clearing it up for me!!!!!!

Mak

**RonBee** · #5 13-Sep-2003, 05:14

Nope. No rule broken. :)

"Lately, he's been getting in late" or "He's been getting in late of late" just mean that recently (probably within the last week or two) he has been tardy (late) in arriving.

You're welcome.

:)

**Tdol** · #6 13-Sep-2003, 12:02

I'd use 'Lately, ...'.