Semantics

[Serial_Apologist]

:sigh: I had hoped we wd avoid sterile territory.

Yes, I too was taught to use 'different from' - I was told that 'different to' was not incorrect, but less approved, and that 'different than' was, ahem, American...

Back in 1926 Fowler was already scouring this area. "That different can only be followed by from & not by to is a SUPERSTITION. Not only is to 'found in writers of all ages' (OED); the principle on which it is rejected (You do not say differ to; therefore you cannot say different to) involves a hasty & ill-defined generalization. Is it all derivatives, or derivative adjectives, or adjectives that were once participles, or actual participles, that must conform to the construction of their parent verbs? It is true of the last only; we cannot say differing to; but that leaves different out in the cold. If it is all derivatives, why do we say according, agreeably, & pursuant, to instructions, when we have to say this accords with, agrees with, or pursues, instructions? If derivative adjectives, why derogatory to, inconceivable to, in contrast with derogates from, not to be conceived by ? If ex-participle adjectives, why do pleases, suffices, defies, me go each its own way, & yield pleasant to, sufficient for, & defiant of, me? The fact is that the objections to different to, like those to averse to, sympathy for, & compare to, are mere pedantries. This does not imply that different from is wrong; on the contrary, it is 'now usual' (OED); but it is only so owing to the dead set made against different to by mistaken critics."
HW Fowler Modern English Usage, 1926

Hmm - I always thought all this backsliding must've begun some time in the 1920s.... all that neo-classical art...

[french frank]

... so: FF, Am51, and vinteuil are all possessors and readers of the nice little Constable edn of Henry Ryecroft - I like it! - Any other Gissingites out there??

If so, we meet monthly over on the literary board! . Curiously, I was aware of something clattering to the floor but because I wasn't carrying anything I thought it was someone else's clatter. Five minutes later, back home, when I discovered the volume was no longer in my pocket, I knew what the clatter had been. At 11am when the lost property office opened I was on the phone and - oh, joy! - they had it waiting for me to collect.

Anyway, different from: I too think it's a matter of logic. Differences don't approach, they depart from each other. But, of course, in the end language is not a dictator and people will use it as they will, out of ignorance or laziness more often than conviction.

[amateur51]

At 11am when the lost property office opened I was on the phone and - oh, joy! - they had it waiting for me to collect.

Oh Joy Unconfined!!

[french frank]

Oh Joy Unconfined!!

I have started a new thread here. (It cost me 60p to reclaim it.)

[Segilla]

Continuous and Continual.

OK - can someone suggest a sensible and easy way to remember the differing correct usages of continually and continuously, please?

Thanks in advance.

Continuous - goes on and on without a break, thus my mnemonic is 'a continuous line'. One would not say a continual line.

Long-winded alas, but it works for me!

[Segilla]

How can we take offence at 'offense' when we use 'offensive'?

[vinteuil]

How can we take offence at 'offense' when we use 'offensive'?

... ah, but wherein lies any "logic" in practice/practise, license/licence etc.?

If there's one thing language ain't, it's "logical"! (Tho' often analogy applies... )

[Segilla]

'Contested Will' is an excellent book. Please read the whole work if you have the time.
The chapter towards the end of the book, 'Epilogue' sums up the case for rejecting all comers.

[Segilla]

Have we lost the war against 'Could of'?

I've heard John Humphrys use it and it is becoming ever more common.

But I listen in vain for a conversation like this:-

"I could of hit him!"
"Couldn't you of shouted instead?"

[Dave2002]

Well I'm sticking dogmatically to "different from".

Well done, but I think we may be in minority!

[arancie33]

I am fed up with hearing people being fed up of this, that or the other.

And slightly off track, we saw a market sign this morning announcing that the mobile café sold Panini's

[Segilla]

I use 'practise' and 'license' as verbs; 'practice' and licence' as nouns, and I'm not entirely sure that this is correct. There is widespread variance everywhere so I guess I'm fighting a losing battle.

[Tony Halstead]

Not sure about 'license/ licence' but pretty well every day
I "try to do some practice"
and can honestly say that I
"enjoy practising".

[Ventilhorn]

I use 'practise' and 'license' as verbs; 'practice' and licence' as nouns, and I'm not entirely sure that this is correct. There is widespread variance everywhere so I guess I'm fighting a losing battle.

Absolutely right. When our GP surgery notifies patients that there is a Practice Nurse in attendance I am always relieved.

I have had too much experience in hospital of Junior Doctors sent to practise taking blood from my person!

On one occasion, feeling that I was being punctured to death, I actually said to the young intern "Would you like me to have a go?"

VH

[Don Petter]

Originally Posted by Serial_Apologist :

Well I'm sticking dogmatically to "different from".

Well done, but I think we may be in minority!

I'm with you both here! 'Different to' always jars with me, not least because 'to' is already used specifically for a likeness in 'compare to', so a difference seems to be inappropriate in this context.

Shall we now start on the R5 football commentator who regularly (at least once per match, it seems) uses 'fortuitous' when he clearly means 'fortunate'?