Pedants' Paradise

[Serial_Apologist]

... o, we're much more formal in Shepherd's Bush. It's "Thank you, driver" here

The moment I settled down here I certainly noted how polite south Londoners generally are - and apologetic too, in situations I would have least expected it, such as in a supermarket aisle along which one is passing, and not even half-blocking the way, or appearing from around a corner. Back in Essex a Darwinesque survival of the shittest behavioural phenomenon seemed to prevail once anywhere within hearing distance of the M25 became yuppie Nirvana for home owning nouveau riche city spivs - one of the reasons I was happy to move away: shoppers would just barge one out of the way and seldom apologise. "You're welcome" seems to be the regular reply here to "thank you" - my habit had always been to say "It's a pleasure".

[oliver sudden]

Well, down 'ere we always says 'Thank you' (or 'Cheers, drive') when we get off the bus, even though s/he's being paid to do the job. But I'm one who apologises when it's the other person's fault. It's just about the oil which lubricates social interactions. Means nothing, costs nothing.

I’m glad the people who come to see me play see fit to extend a bit of thanks in the admittedly, objectively considered, slightly bizarre form of repeatedly slapping their hands together when I’m done, because otherwise it would be a bit of a downer, paid or not.

[vinteuil]

Well, down 'ere we always says 'Thank you' (or 'Cheers, drive') when we get off the bus, even though s/he's being paid to do the job. .

... o, we're much more formal in Shepherd's Bush. It's "Thank you, driver" here

[french frank]

I've sometimes been reproved for not saying 'thank you' to someone who's done only what they were obliged to do anyeway. I think such words are more effective when reserved for occasions when they are more appropriate.

Well, down 'ere we always says 'Thank you' (or 'Cheers, drive') when we get off the bus, even though s/he's being paid to do the job. But I'm one who apologises when it's the other person's fault. It's just about the oil which lubricates social interactions. Means nothing, costs nothing.

[french frank]

Hmmm: I'd still go for the plural paintings (since more than one, and it's the noun closest to the verb) taking the plural verb, even for example with 'one tenth of the paintings are blue, another tenth are green...'

If there's only one painting, then maybe one tenth of it is green and another is blue.

But I don't think we're in real disagreement.

I suspect we are in disagreement, but only in as far as I'm considering what would have been the 'classical' and 'logical' usage, which is not the same as the rather sloppier modern usage whic ... uh, do I really want to continue along these lines? No, I think I'd better retire to think it over again. As you were