Another lost cause of the English language - etc
24-05-2004, 19:07
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#1
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Another lost cause of the English language - etc
I have noticed over the years that it is extremely common to misspell the contraction etc as ect. (OK, I'm prepared to be flexible on whether or not it should have a full stop.) I notice today that the Grauniad political cartoon also manages to make this mistake. Ah well, I suppose it can now join the British billion and sulphur as one of those many lost causes.
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24-05-2004, 19:10
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#2
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
Well, etc is a contraction of "et ceteris", so you could argue that since the letters "e", "c" and "t" appear in that order, it's still a valid usage 
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24-05-2004, 19:14
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#3
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Graham
Well, etc is a contraction of "et ceteris", so you could argue that since the letters "e", "c" and "t" appear in that order, it's still a valid usage |
Right, you now need to produce the dictionary that allows that variant.
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24-05-2004, 19:19
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#4
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Theodoric
Right, you now need to produce the dictionary that allows that variant. |
I think you haven't quite understood the purpose of dictionaries...! 
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24-05-2004, 19:25
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#5
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
well i think it sucks that the proper spelling of sulphur is now sulfur!
grrr!!!!
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24-05-2004, 19:35
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#6
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
Etc. should have a period... It is like Mr., Dr., i.e., e.g., and so forth.
And sulfur is spelt with a "f." :pp
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24-05-2004, 19:38
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#7
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Graham
Well, etc is a contraction of "et ceteris", so you could argue that since the letters "e", "c" and "t" appear in that order, it's still a valid usage |
 e, c, & t appear in what order, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me the correct order is etc.:pp
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24-05-2004, 19:43
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#8
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Jerrek
Etc. should have a period... It is like Mr., Dr., i.e., e.g., and so forth.
And sulfur is spelt with a "f." :pp
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Yeah, but IUPAC have agreed that aluminium, not aluminum, is the correct form.
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All Italy at last called Theodoric its lord.
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24-05-2004, 19:48
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#9
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
When did sulphur becom sulfur?About the same time that programme became program I guess.When I wasn't looking.
Incog.
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24-05-2004, 20:02
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Theodoric
Yeah, but IUPAC have agreed that aluminium, not aluminum, is the correct form. |
And since when is the IUPAC the authority of all things in the English language? They're not. They're a bunch of scientists.
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24-05-2004, 20:15
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#11
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Incognitas
When did sulphur becom sulfur?About the same time that programme became program I guess.When I wasn't looking.
Incog.
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A computer program has, AFAIK, always been "program", whereas the ones on the television are programme.
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24-05-2004, 20:20
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#12
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Graham
Well, etc is a contraction of "et ceteris", so you could argue that since the letters "e", "c" and "t" appear in that order, it's still a valid usage |
[pedant mode]
Actually, it's et cetera. (Remember Yul Brynner in The King and I?)
[/pedant mode]
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24-05-2004, 21:11
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#13
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Theodoric
Yeah, but IUPAC have agreed that aluminium, not aluminum, is the correct form. |
Yay! 
Quote:
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Originally Posted by monkeybreath
well i think it sucks that the proper spelling of sulphur is now sulfur!
grrr!!!!
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Bast*rds 
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24-05-2004, 21:12
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#14
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by iadom
e, c, & t appear in what order, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me the correct order is etc.:pp
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Et Ce tera.
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24-05-2004, 21:13
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#15
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Re: Another lost cause of the English language - etc
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Originally Posted by Graham
Et Cetera.
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Et Cetera.
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