Dave Sill [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
For example, if you boast, ``I can build a Linux mail server in under
an hour,'' I might reply, ``So can't my mother.''
Which most of the English speaking world would interpret as "My mother
can't do that",
Perhaps. But who cares about ``most of the
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Which most of the English speaking world would interpret as "My mother
can't do that", possibly with an implied "(but just about anyone else
can)". This type of idiom leads to ambiguity, and is a barrier to
communication--its only purpose is to be cute.
Dave Sill [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
UTC is GMT, right?
Since the assertion is false, the answer is clearly negative ("no" or
"wrong"). Throwing the "not" before the assertion reverses it:
UTC is GMT, not right?
You are being pedantic, are you not? Yes--and you're mistaken. This
"Len Budney" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
You are being pedantic, are you not? Yes--and you're mistaken.
I was clearly being pedantic. Next time I'll use a pedantic tag.
This particular use of 'not' is purely idiomatic.
Just because a particular grammatical butchery is in wide use and fits
the
On Thu, Jan 20, 2000 at 02:23:54PM -0500, Dave Sill wrote:
"Len Budney" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
You are being pedantic, are you not? Yes--and you're mistaken.
I was clearly being pedantic. Next time I'll use a pedantic tag.
This particular use of 'not' is purely idiomatic.
Just
