Pedants' Paradise

[mercia]

I assume so, though I'm not sure whether you took your 'bath' in the swimming pool or whether there were separate bathing facilities (in baths).

the latter I think

Victoria Baths, Manchester had 64 'slipper baths'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2008/09/17/victoria_baths_history_feature.shtml

[mangerton]

I assume so, though I'm not sure whether you took your 'bath' in the swimming pool or whether there were separate bathing facilities (in baths).

As boys fifty years ago, we would go to "the baths" to swim. There was a public swimming pool, and attached there was a bath house where private baths were available. The facility was owned and run by the town council. The private baths were used by people who did not have a bath at home - quite common then.

edit: mercia, don't know about England, but public washhouses were common in Scotland, where they were frequently called "Steamies".

Tony Roper's play The_Steamie gained immediate popularity when shown on TV. Though rather sentimental in places, it is a fascinating piece of social history showing a part of Scottish life now gone - probably a good thing, too.

[mangerton]

I just heard someone on Any Questions talking about "affordable houses" being built.

He didn't say who could afford them. I should have thought all houses would have to be "affordable", or there would be no point in building them.

[amateur51]

I just heard someone on Any Questions talking about "affordable houses" being built.

He didn't say who could afford them. I should have thought all houses would have to be "affordable", or there would be no point in building them.

That's precisely the point mangerton. Most housing is completely unaffordable for most first-time buyers - the average price paid by a first buyer in UK now stands at £165k approx - you'd need a massive deposit to be able to afford that on say a £30k salary

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/houseprices/9973689/House-prices-for-first-time-buyers-up-5pc-since-summer.html

[Serial_Apologist]

I just heard someone on Any Questions talking about "affordable houses" being built.

He didn't say who could afford them. I should have thought all houses would have to be "affordable", or there would be no point in building them.

If Dimbletwee continues not to chair this programme properly, by letting panellists talk over one-another, and time-wastingly inserting his hesitant little soupcons of "wit", I shall give up on it completely.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If Dimbletwee continues not to chair this programme properly, by letting panellists talk over one-another, and time-wastingly inserting his hesitant little soupcons of "wit", I shall give up on it completely.

Been there; done that; bought the twee shirt.

It makes for considerably-better-spent Saturday afternoons in my experience.

[Serial_Apologist]

Been there; done that; bought the twee shirt.

It makes for considerably-better-spent Saturday afternoons in my experience.

Ferney - I have on cassette a recording of an Any Questions that included Paul Foot and Jonathan Porritt from the 1980s, ably chaired as was then his norm by the same Dimbleby, kept by reason of the excellent, uninterrupted exchanges between those two on whether or not green and socialist politics might be compatible. None of the chairmanly self-puffery which has ruined the programme of today.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As boys fifty years ago, we would go to "the baths" to swim. There was a public swimming pool, and attached there was a bath house where private baths were available. The facility was owned and run by the town council. The private baths were used by people who did not have a bath at home - quite common then.

I too went to the "swimming baths" 50 years ago, but the difference here was that there was only the one pool, with no other facilities. The name seemed strange even then.

[Beef Oven]

I too went to the "swimming baths" 50 years ago, but the difference here was that there was only the one pool, with no other facilities. The name seemed strange even then.

In the 1960s Hackney baths had 3 pools. Men's, women's and mixed. Took a bath there too each week.

[Serial_Apologist]

"Comprised of..." heard on Today this morning. I was taught this was incorrect, and that one should use the term "consisting of" or "comprising". Were my schoolteachers right?

[vinteuil]

"Comprised of..." heard on Today this morning. I was taught this was incorrect, and that one should use the term "consisting of" or "comprising". Were my schoolteachers right?

... estate agents - who regularly need to use this - often seem to get this wrong. As you say - 'comprises' or 'consists of'.

- So a house may comprise six rooms - or consist of six rooms : it should not, as far as grammar is concerned - " '*comprise of' six rooms"

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's rather like: "Please enter your PIN number."

[vinteuil]

It's rather like: "Please enter your PIN number."

... but surely "PIN number" is now as customary as "the hoi polloi" ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... but surely "PIN number" is now as customary as "the hoi polloi" ?

There are a few shop workers who actually ask for the PIN, but not many.

[jean]

So a house may comprise six rooms - or consist of six rooms : it should not, as far as grammar is concerned - " '*comprise of' six rooms"

But it may quite correctly be comprised of six rooms.