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RE: Apple permits "then" to be used as a coord. conjunction in instructions?
Subject:RE: Apple permits "then" to be used as a coord. conjunction in instructions? From:"Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Tue, 12 Jul 2005 01:02:11 -0400
> I am all for accepting oddities of language, but I wanted to
first
> understand whether it was an oddity or an error.
It is an error, just as the singular "they" is an error. Well,
actually, because people do it intentionally, it's not an error but
an abominable sin. ; )
On another mailing list there was a question posted recently about
a *simple* English sentence in which the poster could not determine
whether the last word in the sentence should be singular or plural:
> > In joint ceremonies with the Mickey Mouse College, 36
> graduates walked
> > across the vast stage at Carnegie Hall to receive their degree.
> >
What could be the cause of this confusion? My guess was:
This is precisely why those of us who argue against acceptance of
the singular "they" or "their" is a slippery slope leading to ....
I have no doubt the poster's hesitancy is caused by her having seen
and perhaps been told that the singular "they" or "their" is fine.
It isn't. Grrrr.
While people may swallow the "and" in "Click Save, and then click
OK," when they say it, one should never use sloppy speaking as a
guide for how to write in English.
Bonnie Granat | www.GranatEdit.com
bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com
Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
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