tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post6237095736488154922..comments2024-03-28T12:17:44.126-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): Autocorrect?Minnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-87889520213922624192017-09-10T06:40:30.817-05:002017-09-10T06:40:30.817-05:00I would have fretted over it for a couple of minut...I would have fretted over it for a couple of minutes, then change the verb to "set" to avoid the problem. Miss Cellaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056319889765739429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-37575026534816184972017-09-09T18:21:11.450-05:002017-09-09T18:21:11.450-05:00Nope, sorry. The teaser box is always on the front...Nope, sorry. The teaser box is always on the front page of the online Times, in the right-hand column near the top, if that helps.Swift Lorisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-38171981733967340402017-09-09T17:27:57.714-05:002017-09-09T17:27:57.714-05:00Do you know what section it's in?Do you know what section it's in?Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-84226106047386666322017-09-09T16:22:21.805-05:002017-09-09T16:22:21.805-05:00BTW, the New York Times publishes a weekly copyedi...BTW, the New York Times publishes a weekly copyediting test consisting of around 10 paragraphs from recent stories, each with an uncorrected and unmarked grammar, style, or spelling error. Readers are supposed to find and highlight the error; they have several chances for each one (including "Give up?"), and then a few lines appear identifying and explaining the error. It's nicely done. The choice of singular versus plural verb in a sentence similar to your example turns up frequently. Sorry, can't remember what day of the week the test appears!Swift Lorisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-30085258766081203242017-09-09T16:09:10.676-05:002017-09-09T16:09:10.676-05:00I can't imagine a stylebook insisting on "...I can't imagine a stylebook insisting on "were" for this sentence.<br /><br />I'm reminded of the newspaper story headlined "20 Inches of Snow Fall on City." The copy editor pinned the headline to the newsroom's bulletin board with this appended note: "Watch out for falling inches!"Swift Lorisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-36315668366292324912017-09-08T12:17:18.755-05:002017-09-08T12:17:18.755-05:00True. I didn't even think of that aspect. :-...True. I didn't even think of that aspect. :-)Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-87051680224892559982017-09-08T12:08:14.581-05:002017-09-08T12:08:14.581-05:00Aaand I just saw your note about the assumed singu...Aaand I just saw your note about the assumed singular "total". Ignore that part.Shrikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03068956805601413245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-90447154178060562462017-09-08T12:07:32.695-05:002017-09-08T12:07:32.695-05:00"Hunt's 239 yards" is the subject, b..."Hunt's 239 yards" is the subject, but it should probably be "Hunt's 239-yard total", so it would be singular subject and it would fit for "was".<br /><br />That said, it's still passive voice, and repeating his name is unnecessary. A better sentence might be: "His 239 yards set a pro debut record for the merged NFL."Shrikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03068956805601413245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-18410263169854656782017-09-08T11:59:43.182-05:002017-09-08T11:59:43.182-05:00I am more focused on whether it should be is/are i...I am more focused on whether it should be is/are instead of was/were. As far as I know, he still holds the record, since no other games have been played yet.Bob Bertschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18194024474548763690noreply@blogger.com