Stephen Turner wrote:
> Hello American helpers! If we had Groundhog Day, or even groundhogs, here,
> they certainly wouldn't be able to see their shadows today. It's grey and
> drizzling. Apparently this is a good omen if you're American, but I'd rather
> have it sunny.
Actually, you do have it. It's called Imbolc and probably hasn't been
widely celebrated for about 500 years. I believe the custom is to douse
all the fires in the homestead at sometime well after sunset, then
relight them to celebrate the return of the sun and spring. But you were
probably supposed to have done that last night.
> That wasn't the US English question. :) Someone just suggested to me that
> one of the phrases sounded unnatural:
>
>> There is a string (lines 243 and 354) that is used for the top of the
>> output that says:
>>
>> (Figures in parentheses refer to the 7 days to [date])
>>
>> I believe the word "prior" should be added:
>>
>> (Figures in parentheses refer to the 7 days prior to [date])
>
> ^^^^^
>
> To me, "prior to" has too much of the sense of "strictly before" rather than
> the intended "up to and including". But would any native speakers care to
> comment?
I agree. "Prior to" (when I use it / IMHO) does not include the final
day. Perhaps you could just say
(Figures in parentheses refer to the 7 days up to and including [date])
That would make it clear, no?
--
Jeremy Wadsack
Wadsack-Allen Digital Group
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