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Dick Margulis wrote:
> Bonnie Granat wrote:
>
>
>> So, I remain mystified. (Well, Cambridge may well be just wrong. It's
>> not impossible, although it's more likely that *I* am wrong, but I
>> haven't yet seen an explanation of why I am wrong, if I am wrong.)
>>
>
>
> Bonnie,
>
> I think you've fallen into the Purism trap. You are thinking (only
> momentarily, I hope) of grammar as a logically consistent,
> mathematically perfect set of prescriptivist rules rather than as the
> much more flexible underlying structure of a human language.
>
> However, the fact that it _sounds_ wrong to you is a clue that this
> is a construction in transition from not acceptable to acceptable.
> You're not comfortable with it, so you will avoid it; others _are_
> comfortable with
> it and see nothing wrong with using it. Those who write and edit from
> the point of view of wanting to offend/confuse/startle the fewest
> number
> of people will probably continue to eschew the construction for some
> time yet. Others who are less concerned about that issue and just want
> to push the language along a bit faster will use it as they see fit.
>
Professional writers and editors need to either use professional
standards or give up the right to call themselves "professionals."
Bonnie Granat
www.GranatEdit.com
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Mobile: 617-319-7461
Office: 617-354-7084
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