HAR! Got me. Fingers on the wrong keys: "But as a writer, I'd never construct it like that. Unless, of course, I was looking to be fired." If I'm going to be arrogant, I better proof read:-). Paul -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "P. J. Alling" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > Bit as a wroter. I'd never construct it like that. Unless, of course, I was > lucking to be fired. > Huh? > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > From: keith_w <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >> Paul Stenquist wrote: > >> > >>> British English treats company names as plurals. American English > >>> treats them as singular. The Brit system works better when it comes > >>> to pronouns. It's hard to think of Mercedes-Benz or AIG as an "it." > >>> > >> Certainly not. A company IS an "it." It is a business entity. > >> > > Only in America. > > > >>> The plural pronoun, "they," sounds correct to most ears. However, if > >>> one uses the plural verb and says "Mercedes-Benz are introducing > >>> another new model in the fall," it sounds awkward to the American ear > >>> but not to the Brits. It's just another transatlantic difference. > >>> > >> Perhaps you might think of it this way (see bracketed additions): > >> > >> > >>> Americans routinely use a plural pronoun and a singular verb, as in > >>> "[The company known as] Mercedes-Benz is introducing a new model in > >>> > >> > the fall. They [the people who run the company] expect it > >> > >>> to sell very well." > >>> > >> With the inclusion of the bracketed clarification, it makes perfect > >> grammatical sense. > >> > >> > > Bit as a wroter. I'd never construct it like that. Unless, of course, I was > lucking to be fired. > > > > > >>> Bad, but it's just another example of how the > >>> colonists have corrupted the language. > >>> > >> You're entitled any any opinion you feel comfortable with, whether correct > >> or > >> not. > >> > >> > > This usage difference is not based on my opinion. It was a dictate from > > both > Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar when I wrote their advertising and product brochures. > > > >>> I don't know which way the Canadians swing on that number. > >>> Paul > >>> > >> keith whaley > >> > >> > >> -- > >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > >> [email protected] > >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > >> follow > >> the directions. > >> > > > > > > > > > -- > Vote for Cthulhu. Why settle for a lesser evil... > -- Dr. Jerry Pournelle > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions.
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