Originally posted by kernelbogey
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Insofar....
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He did nothing. He did nothing whatever. He did nothing whatsoever. Or should the superlative be whateverest?
It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
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Originally posted by Joseph K View Post
I'm not sure it's really pompous. I might add 'whatsoever' at the end of a sentence for emphasis - but to add 'whatever' in lieu just wouldn't be idiomatic."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Originally posted by Nick Armstrong View Post
I cannot think of any example where that would be the case
Is that clear enough for you?
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Originally posted by Joseph K View Post
If you type 'whatsoever meaning' into Google you will discover that it is an adverb meaning 'at all' used for emphasis, just like I said it was. It also has an archaic meaning of 'whatever' - but my point was that the word 'whatever' isn't used in the sense given above of 'whatsoever' meaning 'at all' for emphasis.
Is that clear enough for you?
That makes no sense whatsoever
rather than
That makes no sense whatever!
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Originally posted by Sir Velo View PostA part of English, er British identity, since at least the days of the Office of Circumlocution.
I see nothing whatsoever wrong with whatsoever however. It's a shame if such enrichments of language are regarded as pompous, isn't it?
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Originally posted by Pulcinella View Post
I would certainly say
That makes no sense whatsoever
rather than
That makes no sense whatever!
The " ...no sense whatever " version sounds a bit as if it's missing the end of the sentence - perhaps "...the circumstances."
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Originally posted by RichardB View Post
One of the many problems with Britain is that it has no written circumlocution.
I see nothing whatsoever wrong with whatsoever however. It's a shame if such enrichments of language are regarded as pompous, isn't it?
Exacerbated by the unwritten manual of tergiversation used by those in positions of influence and power...
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Originally posted by Pulcinella View Post
I would certainly say
That makes no sense whatsoever
rather than
That makes no sense whatever!
I might use either, the infix 'so' being an intensifier.It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
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