Long A

Ralph Gillions · Post by **Ralph Gillions** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:40 pm

"A vowel please" or
"A consonant."

If the "A" is pronounced as a long A (to rhyme with mane/drain/hay),-
is that acceptable, or not acceptable, or does it matter?

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:18 pm

Ralph wrote:"A vowel please" or
"A consonant."

If the "A" is pronounced as a long A (to rhyme with mane/drain/hay),-
is that acceptable, or not acceptable, or does it matter?

It's not wrong, it just gives the indefinite article more emphasis, which can sound odd if you do it all the time. What is indisputably wrong is pronouncing the definite article "the" with a schwa (i.e. indeterminate vowel) when it precedes another vowel sound. People who talk about "thuh arts" or "thuh economy" sound unbelievably thick.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:23 pm

I sometimes say things like "a emu", just to annoy people. I will be sure to do this if I ever meet Phil.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:25 pm

I'd probably say a long "a" if I was thinking about what to say afterwards.

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:29 pm

A egg.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:57 pm

Jon Corby wrote:I'd probably say a long "a" if I was thinking about what to say afterwards.

Indeed. After reading the OP I noticed that Steve Briers did this in one of today's letters rounds when he said something like: "And a... final vowel, please". Nothing wrong with that at all.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:58 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:I sometimes say things like "a emu", just to annoy people. I will be sure to do this if I ever meet Phil.

Nah, that kind of thing just sounds cute.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:45 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:I'd probably say a long "a" if I was thinking about what to say afterwards.
Indeed. After reading the OP I noticed that Steve Briers did this in one of today's letters rounds when he said something like: "And a... final vowel, please". Nothing wrong with that at all.

Spoilers!

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:33 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:I sometimes say things like "a emu", just to annoy people. I will be sure to do this if I ever meet Phil.
Nah, that kind of thing just sounds cute.

All the more reason for Charlie to avoid saying it in your company.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:33 pm

Man I really despair what this forum is coming to sometimes. I love reading it but some threads/posts I just think "why?"

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:35 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:Man I really despair what this forum is coming to sometimes. I love reading it but some threads/posts I just think "why?"

A strange quote from a man who prides himself on correcting the grammar of others. Pot/kettle/black situation ... possibly?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:35 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:Man I really despair what this forum is coming to sometimes. I love reading it but some threads/posts I just think "why?"

I think Ralph was satirising the sort of post you're referring to.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:38 pm

David O'Donnell wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:Man I really despair what this forum is coming to sometimes. I love reading it but some threads/posts I just think "why?"
A strange quote from a man who prides himself on correcting the grammar of others. Pot/kettle/black situation ... possibly?

Actually, no. I'm more of a spelling man myself. I do try hard to be correct but I generally don't nit-pick at grammar. For what it's worth I can't see what's wrong with my above sentence apart from no comma after "Man". Please do enlighten me.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:42 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:
David O'Donnell wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:Man I really despair what this forum is coming to sometimes. I love reading it but some threads/posts I just think "why?"
A strange quote from a man who prides himself on correcting the grammar of others. Pot/kettle/black situation ... possibly?
Actually, no. I'm more of a spelling man myself. I do try hard to be correct but I generally don't nit-pick at grammar. For what it's worth I can't see what's wrong with my above sentence apart from no comma after "Man". Please do enlighten me.

I wasn't criticising your grammar.

This thread is funny for the reason that Charlie has posted.

I am defending it.

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:47 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:
David O'Donnell wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:Man I really despair what this forum is coming to sometimes. I love reading it but some threads/posts I just think "why?"
A strange quote from a man who prides himself on correcting the grammar of others. Pot/kettle/black situation ... possibly?
Actually, no. I'm more of a spelling man myself. I do try hard to be correct but I generally don't nit-pick at grammar. For what it's worth I can't see what's wrong with my above sentence apart from no comma after "Man". Please do enlighten me.

You can't despair something. You can despair AT something, perhaps. The second sentence has no tense or something? Youre missing a few words from the second sentence, which technically makes no sense, although I'm sure everybody understood what you meant. Perhaps DOD's comment on the strangeness of your post was directed more at the subject matter of it.

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:48 pm

Hurrah, I was correct. Too slow, but correct.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:58 pm

Kirk's Post: A Complete Critique

Kirk Bevins wrote:Man

Vocative, needs a comma.

Kirk Bevins wrote:I really despair what this forum is coming to sometimes.

Despair at (qv O'Neill 2009.)
Trailing preposition might be considered bad style, consider refactoring.
"Sometimes" is awkwardly appended, consider moving to early in the sentence or discarding.

Kirk Bevins wrote:I love reading it

Good.

Kirk Bevins wrote:but some threads/posts I just think "why?"

Awkward punctuation mark could be replaced with a word.
Insert comma before literal quote.
Quote should begin with a capital letter.
Needs a verb to connect "some threads/posts" with the rest of the sentence.

A good end point would be:

Kirk wishes he wrote: Man, I really despair at this forum. I love reading it but some threads or posts just make me think, "Why?"

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:00 pm

Haha, I really do suck at grammar obviously.

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:Haha, I really do suck at grammar obviously.

At least you're the best at Countdown, surely that's all that really matters in life.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:18 pm

Jimmy wrote:
At least you're the best at Countdown, surely that's all that really matters in life.

I'm honoured, Jimmy, I really am but I'm far from the best. Mr Howe, Travers and Beevers are three that are superior, at least.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:07 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Jimmy wrote:
At least you're the best at Countdown, surely that's all that really matters in life.
I'm honoured, Jimmy, I really am but I'm far from the best. Mr Howe, Travers and Beevers are three that are superior, at least.

Probably the best never to get anywhere on the show.

Les Butterworth · Post by **Les Butterworth** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:41 am

I'd probably say a long "a" if I was thinking about what to say afterwards.

That would be an A er A er whatever for me

you know what i mean like.

c4countdown

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