TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: English - it's a funny language From:"DSNACQ::HARRISON"@TULSA.DOWELL.SLB.COM Date:Thu, 30 Jun 1994 10:16:30 -0500
Mindy Kale's entertaining essay on the paradoxes of the English
language reminded me of this little rhyme I had put away in my
"interesting things to read on a slow day" folder. I don't remember
where I got it, but it's so old the paper is yellow. It's by Morris
A. Nunes.
QUIRKS
Why, if there's a who and whom,
Must I ask for you, not youm?
Night by night I've turned and tossed:
How come lose goes not to lossed?
We say "give," in past, "we gave."
We say "live," but can't say "lave."
The jokes the thing that makes a jokester,
but yolks of hen make her no yolkster.
I grow and grow, and say "I grew."
I glow and glow, but never "glew."
On the subject of swim and swam,
If there's a skim, how come no skam?
I do sit and I had sat.
My clothes now fit, but had not fat.
Who made up these made requirements,
Causing me to make inquirements?
Why, when checking dictionary,
Are words I want so fictionary?
Barbi Harrison
The Wordmaster, Inc.
harrison -at- dsnvx1 -dot- sinet -dot- slb -dot- com
