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Old 11-Jan-2004, 21:06
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Default Had Diana worn a seatbelt
In my newspaper the other day, I came across the following sentence: Had Princess Diana worn a seatbelt, she may have lived. This usage is very common nowadays, but it strikes me as odd; I would have used might there....

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Old 11-Jan-2004, 22:44
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Had Diana worn a seatbelt she almost surely would have lived.

:)
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Old 12-Jan-2004, 17:12
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That's fine, but I really don't like this use of 'may'.
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Old 12-Jan-2004, 17:45
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If I say "she may have lived" it seems like I am saying somebody might have given her permission to live. A rather odd thing to say, I think.

:)
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Old 12-Jan-2004, 20:29
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It doesn't make much sense to me.
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