c4countdown

Yes, Charlie, you're probably right: I am making an idiot of myself, although, when I was your age, we didn't say things like that to people old enough to be our grandparents. Your brain- power and certainly your eyesight are obviously greater than mine, because you can see my post that began, as I ...

What happened to the post I submitted about this time yesterday, Charlie?

Will you be including any profane words in your dissertation, then, Charlie?

Tut, tut, Charlie! Does your use of that one word of insult, criticism, derision or disagreement, frequently used on television mean that you think there is a need for vulgarity on your website? I presume it was aimed at me.

There is no need for vulgarity on this or any other website, Nigel. Some people, including me, find it very offensive and it suggests that you have a very limited vocabulary.

No punch line from me, Charlie, just congratulations!

In that case, Charlie, I presume you graduated with a First. Yes?

What subject are you reading, Charlie?

Oh, no, it wasn't MIchael - it was Jon. Sorry

What did amuse you, then, Charlie? Michael thinks it wasn't the grammar.

I ssume, Michael, that you have accepted my tongue-in-cheek apology for not putting the words that offended you into a sentence. No, it's not a sentence - it's a stand-alone phrase of which there are numerous examples in English. Here are a few that spring to mind. "Red sky in the morning, shep...

Entschuldigen Sie bitte, Michael ." . . .family life, with no respect for the law . . . " Is that better?

I wish I knew what your second sentence means, Matt. ". . . as opposed to someone." Which someone? Someone who what? I think someone does have to be pedantic in order to try to reverse the worsening standards in the use of English - indicative of worsening standards in education as a whole...

Yes, Sally, a welcome from me too, but please don't say, "James was sat in front of me" - an all too common grammatical error these days. You should say, "James was sitting in front of me". Sorry to be pedantic, but someone has to be!

Just had a thought: I wonder if Kai will own up to his plagiarism. Will you Kai?

Kai Laddiman was quoting the words in my post of 21st July 2009 at 9.53 pm, addressed to Matt.

Well, he was certainly kind to you, Kai, so I suppose that makes him fantastic in your eyes, but,of course, I never suggested that he was no good at his job, just that he needs to enlarge his vocabulary. I expect you'll be in bed now,so you can read this tomorrow.

Looking back at what you said, Matt, I think "fantastic" is not the new "nice", but the new "fabulous". Remember how everyone seemed to use that word a year or two ago? But not, I think, as frequently as Jeff uses "fantastic".

Thank you, Matt: I'm glad you agree with me. Countdown is a game about words, for heaven's sake. Yes, people often do use a favourite word when they can't think of another. I don't know which is better (or worse) - "fantastic" or "y'know".

With regard to your primary school teacher's attitude to "nice", Michael, this story may make you smile. A primary school teacher asked her class to make up a sentence using the same word twice, but attached to different words. She said, "I'll give you an example - 'The important lady...

Well, at least Jim Bowen has three words meaning the same thing, Marc. Jeff has only one

Nice one Matt!

I am sick of hearing Jeff Stelling using the word "fantastic" whenever he thinks something is very good, excellent, remarkable, praiseworthy and many other adjectives. I lost count of the number of times he said it on Friday's (17/07/2009) programme, but at the end, he said it four times i...