"A" nonsense

[TheParser]

I have just heard Her Majesty's first minister say in the House of Commons:

"What a complete nonsense!"

I am pretty sure that most American speakers dropped that "a" long ago.

Do most British speakers still say "a nonsense"?

Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

We do still use it although I would probably simply say "What complete/total nonsense" in that context although if referring to one very specific piece of writing or a particular speech, it would still make sense. I would use the indefinite article with "He made a total nonsense out of my very simple instructions".

(Call me a political ignoramus, but I don't even know who "Her Majesty's first minister" is!)

 

[TheParser]

(Call me a political ignoramus, but I don't even know who "Her Majesty's first minister" is!)

Au contraire.

It is your humble servant who is a political ignoramus.

I had read that before the office of "prime minister" was officially established, that the most influential adviser of His Majesty was

referred to as "first minister," since all ministers -- officially speaking -- were but servants of His Gracious Majesty.

I promise to simply use the term "prime minister" in the future.

Thank you again for your reply.

 

[bhaisahab]

Au contraire.

It is your humble servant who is a political ignoramus.

I had read that before the office of "prime minister" was officially established, that the most influential adviser of His Majesty was

referred to as "first minister," since all ministers -- officially speaking -- were but servants of His Gracious Majesty.

I promise to simply use the term "prime minister" in the future.

Thank you again for your reply.

He's not the Prime Minister. He's a very naughty boy!;-)

 

[BobK]

I think I heard David Cameron say that. He was angry (or at least it suited the 'show' to seem to be angry). Most English speakers in that context would say 'What complete nonsense'. The grandiloquent archaism is often used in rhetorical contexts, and it also implies a kind of superiority - it's the sort of bombastic trick used by self-important school-teachers.

b