Pedants' Paradise

[Andrew Slater]

Somewhat baffled (but suspect I'm missing something that is common knowledge): 'Twelve of Britain's most talented sewers compete to win.'

It reminded me of "Lord Redesdale ("Uncle Matthew" in Love in a Cold Climate), celebrated for his dislike of foreigners and his daughters' friends, disparaged collectively as "sewers."

Don't let them stitch you up .....

[oddoneout]

Somewhat baffled (but suspect I'm missing something that is common knowledge): 'Twelve of Britain's most talented sewers compete to win.'

It reminded me of "Lord Redesdale ("Uncle Matthew" in Love in a Cold Climate), celebrated for his dislike of foreigners and his daughters' friends, disparaged collectively as "sewers."

Sewist is a popular alternative in crafting (rather than dressmaking/tailoring etc)circles. It may be a made up word (suggested as from sewing and artist) but at least avoids the dirty plumbing overtones.

[Padraig]

Don't let them stitch you up .....

. . . and don't go anywhere near hewers and drawers.

[LMcD]

. . . and don't go anywhere near hewers and drawers.

Does that mean I shouldn't apply to appear on Countdown until the current host leaves in June?

[Bryn]

To mark half a century since the end of Igor Stravinsky’s long and creative musical life, Radio 3 presents a river of his music. Over the course of five and a half hours discover a rich and surprising mix of 50 pieces, expertly curated and sprinkled with the insights of Stravinsky performers.

Phew! They are even advertising the curate's egg properties of their 'River'.

[Serial_Apologist]

Phew! They are even advertising the curate's egg properties of their 'River'.

You might have thought they could have held their water until after the programme though...

[kernelbogey]

Here is a sentence from Wikipedia using 'they' as the pronoun for a subject who defines as non-binary:

[X] has dated both men and women, stating in April 2021 that they are bisexual after previously resisting labelling their sexuality.

I had to read it more than twice to be clear about who the 'they' was/were.

I guess is this is to be a new convention, writers need to be more careful.

[oddoneout]

Here is a sentence from Wikipedia using 'they' as the pronoun for a subject who defines as non-binary:

[X] has dated both men and women, stating in April 2021 that they are bisexual after previously resisting labelling their sexuality.

I had to read it more than twice to be clear about who the 'they' was/were.

I guess is this is to be a new convention, writers need to be more careful.

I agree. A couple of years ago I read an article in which, because the writer hadn't bothered to construct some sentences slightly differently, I couldn't work out what was actually being said or by whom about the people involved. It didn't help that the "alternative" pronoun situation wasn't stated at the outset and it wasn't apparent from the article until about halfway through.
Given what seems to me to be increasingly careless writing in general, especially an apparent lack of proofreading/editing, I do wonder if there is even the level of skill to deal with such a consideration as rephrasing to clarify meaning.

[kernelbogey]

Unlock - appears to be being used as a noun now (i.e. the reverse of lockdown).

[LMcD]

Unlock - appears to be being used as a noun now (i.e. the reverse of lockdown).

Also a French Rugby Union forward.

[french frank]

Also a French Rugby Union forward.

Your jokes are getting more and more Paine-ful.

[LMcD]

Your jokes are getting more and more Paine-ful.

Must be something in the water in our shared birthplace (Thetford).

[french frank]

Must be something in the water in our shared birthplace (Thetford).

I did not know that. What about the Common Sense?

[LMcD]

I did not know that. What about the Common Sense?

I know very little about Mr P and his writings, but am about to purchase a Kindle copy of his pamphlet.

[cloughie]

Your jokes are getting more and more Paine-ful.

He just thought to poppet in!