We all must have obstinate words that refuse to leave the tips of our tongues. I would even guess that having a larger vocabulary makes one more sensitive to nuances that aren't quite right, and so more susceptible to this oh so frustrating malady of diction. I thought perhaps we Wordies could pluck the words off each other's tongue. This list is a place to post meanings searching for words.
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Incidentally, I wonder if any one could enlighten me as to the correct grammatical number of tongues in the phrase, "we Wordies could pluck the words off each other's tongue." It sounds wrong that way, but my grammatical sense tells me each can only have one tongue.
Here's where this particular conundrum is addressed: Language Log: More head(s). Warning – it's quite long. (I hope it's the correct analogy; it was long since I read that article).
Hmm, I read the article, but it didn't seem terribly convincing or apropos. The best I could find was this. Although the American Heritage folks disagree (figures, as they're descriptivists), I've concluded that either "each other's tongue" or "each others' tongues" is correct. I'm still not satisfied with the grammar in the latter, because "each" is an adjectival pronoun, and adjectival pronouns have to agree in number with the nouns they describe: it is incorrect to say "that circuses".
The plural seems more natural to me, though use of the singular wouldn't bother me. I hope that puts me on the other side from Judge Posner*, but I'm too lazy to go back and check.
* Residual pique from buying his recent book on plagiarism, which turned out to be phenomenally dull and remarkably devoid of intellectual content.
As far as I could tell from the quote in the article Mia posted, Posner doesn't have a terribly coherent position on it. He essentially makes a syntactical argument on a grammatical question.
But "tongue" is referring back to Wordies, not to each. I think it should read "each other's tongues." Incidentally, full disclosure: my editing world and reesetee's editing world are likely very similar worlds.
shevek commented on the list word-bounties
Incidentally, I wonder if any one could enlighten me as to the correct grammatical number of tongues in the phrase, "we Wordies could pluck the words off each other's tongue." It sounds wrong that way, but my grammatical sense tells me each can only have one tongue.
July 17, 2008
mialuthien commented on the list word-bounties
Here's where this particular conundrum is addressed: Language Log: More head(s). Warning – it's quite long. (I hope it's the correct analogy; it was long since I read that article).
July 17, 2008
shevek commented on the list word-bounties
Hmm, I read the article, but it didn't seem terribly convincing or apropos. The best I could find was this. Although the American Heritage folks disagree (figures, as they're descriptivists), I've concluded that either "each other's tongue" or "each others' tongues" is correct. I'm still not satisfied with the grammar in the latter, because "each" is an adjectival pronoun, and adjectival pronouns have to agree in number with the nouns they describe: it is incorrect to say "that circuses".
July 17, 2008
sionnach commented on the list word-bounties
The plural seems more natural to me, though use of the singular wouldn't bother me. I hope that puts me on the other side from Judge Posner*, but I'm too lazy to go back and check.
* Residual pique from buying his recent book on plagiarism, which turned out to be phenomenally dull and remarkably devoid of intellectual content.
July 17, 2008
shevek commented on the list word-bounties
As far as I could tell from the quote in the article Mia posted, Posner doesn't have a terribly coherent position on it. He essentially makes a syntactical argument on a grammatical question.
July 17, 2008
jennarenn commented on the list word-bounties
very cool list idea. :)
July 19, 2008
shevek commented on the list word-bounties
Glad you like it, jenn.
July 20, 2008
reesetee commented on the list word-bounties
Shevek, in *my* editing world, "each others' tongues" would be correct in this instance.
And great idea for a list. :-)
July 24, 2008
bestiary commented on the list word-bounties
but, but. "each" is singular.
(this is a great idea for a list. i will watch.)
July 24, 2008
chained_bear commented on the list word-bounties
But "tongue" is referring back to Wordies, not to each. I think it should read "each other's tongues." Incidentally, full disclosure: my editing world and reesetee's editing world are likely very similar worlds.
July 24, 2008
reesetee commented on the list word-bounties
Except mine doesn't involve 18th-century stuff. :-)
July 28, 2008
chained_bear commented on the list word-bounties
Also reesetee is better with apostrophes. I defer to that arrangement rather than mine--i.e. "others' tongues." (Duh)
July 28, 2008
reesetee commented on the list word-bounties
'Apos'tr'ophe's? 'Well', I' do o'kay wi'th t'hem.'
July 30, 2008
chained_bear commented on the list word-bounties
Better "that" than "misplaced" quotation "marks." I'm "down with" those.
Was it "skipvia" who posted a "link" to the "Gallery of Misused Quotation Marks"? Whoever it "was," "bless" him "or" her.
July 30, 2008
reesetee commented on the list word-bounties
Who? kn?o?ws? C?oul?d hav?e been? an??yone.
July 30, 2008
Prolagus commented on the list word-bounties
See also Lost for word.
July 30, 2008