I need a doctor

[Marylin]

Originally Posted by RonBee

In Britspeak a surgery is what we American's would call a doctor's office. That could be the cause of some of the confusion. The questioner is, I think, not going to watch a surgery but going to a surgery (going to see the doctor). Being used to that usage of the word surgery, Tdol, I think, probably answered the question best.

surgery being a doctor's office?...
Live and learn for me... I sure have never heard that one before in my life!
hmmmmmm

Originally Posted by RonBee

In Britspeak a surgery is what we American's would call a doctor's office. That could be the cause of some of the confusion. The questioner is, I think, not going to watch a surgery but going to a surgery (going to see the doctor). Being used to that usage of the word surgery, Tdol, I think, probably answered the question best.

"Britspeak" is a fascinating concept! I always thought it was known as English. I'm trying very hard not to be all snobby and English about this, but it's a challenge. In any case, I still haven't really had an answer to my question. Clearly though, everyone's happy to quibble over (is that too formal for you, Marilyn?) - okay, argue about - side-issues, such as whether you can say "I require a surgery". That is so painfully wrong, it's untrue. And even if you do say it in "American", can't you hear how horrid it sounds?

I seem to have lost my rag, but what a thoroughly infuriating waste of time. My stiff upper lip is wobbling with rage.

I hope you understood all of that, Marilyn. If not, feel free to tell me, because I really enjoy being lectured by complete incompetents.

[Marylin]

My stiff upper lip is wobbling with rage.

Well, look at it this way. If it's just wobbling, it's not too bad. I hope it doesn't flap too much again as it might get really sore and we won't be able to hear from you again. Wonder if we can handle it....

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

All I was looking for was some ideas about a grammatical rule that could govern this case. A similar question arose at work over the sentence: "it is an idiots guide to writing a novel". 'Idiots' clearly requires an apostrophe, but where?

'Idiot's guide' sounds like a guide written by an idiot, or a guide for one solitary idiot.

But 'Idiots' guide' in the context looks wrong because of numbers: "it is an idiots' guide" still doesn't feel quite right, although surely makes more sense (after all, the books are 'for dummies', not 'for dummy').

I do understand you can write around these cases, but if you say something, you should be able to write it. Any ideas?

There's no grammatical rule. It depends whether you'd like the book to be a personal guide for the individual idiot or a general guide for all idiots. I would go for the plural because of the ambiguity of the singular, which could refer to the audience or the writer.

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

"Britspeak" is a fascinating concept! I always thought it was known as English. I'm trying very hard not to be all snobby and English about this, but it's a challenge.

It's just a casual way of distinguishing between the forms of English. Where differences occur, it is normally called British English, or BrE/BE. Calling it 'English' wouldn't really help.

I would suggest that Britspeak is slightly derogatory, much in the same way that "Newspeak" was a satirical jibe in Nineteen Eighty-Four. Referring to a language as something-speak is normally pejorative. So I think I'm thoroughly justified in defending the right to call my mother tongue English.

That's another two minutes of my life I've squandered on you wastrels.

Originally Posted by Marylin

My stiff upper lip is wobbling with rage.

Well, look at it this way. If it's just wobbling, it's not too bad. I hope it doesn't flap too much again as it might get really sore and we won't be able to hear from you again. Wonder if we can handle it....

...Which would indicate that you somehow use your mouth to type? You must have an ugly old face if you repeatedly bash it against the keyboard.

[Marylin]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

...Which would indicate that you somehow use your mouth to type? You must have an ugly old face if you repeatedly bash it against the keyboard.

.


ugly old face ?

Well, my face hasn't stopped any clocks lately but that's all I got. I know one thing for sure...pretty or ugly, my mouth is a lot cleaner than yours.

I am surprised you are still getting away with insulting people the way you have been left, right and center. Any moderators here?

Marilyn,

I don't know whether you're enjoying this duel as much as I am, but just in case you're not, I feel I ought to apologise.

I really can't get that worked up over grammar - I'm interested in it, but I certainly wouldn't seriously start arguing with someone over errant apostrophes. I've been exaggerating rather a lot, and trying to get a reaction because...hey, it would be deathly dull otherwise.

So sorry if I've crossed the line, but I hope you've enjoyed the war of words as well. It has injected some interest into my working day, which surely indicates I need a new job urgently. And, indeed, a new life.

Oh well, hope to bump into you in another thread some other time.

Until then,
Bye!

[Marylin]

Originally Posted by Hotspur

Marilyn,

I don't know whether you're enjoying this duel as much as I am, but just in case you're not, I feel I ought to apologise.

I really can't get that worked up over grammar - I'm interested in it, but I certainly wouldn't seriously start arguing with someone over errant apostrophes. I've been exaggerating rather a lot, and trying to get a reaction because...hey, it would be deathly dull otherwise.

So sorry if I've crossed the line, but I hope you've enjoyed the war of words as well. It has injected some interest into my working day, which surely indicates I need a new job urgently. And, indeed, a new life.

Oh well, hope to bump into you in another thread some other time.

Until then,
Bye!

I am glad somebody's having fun here. If insulting others brings out a world of intrigue and spark into your life, then I will wait till you get a new job. Until then I will cautiously wait till we bump into each other again.