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Subject:Re: Re[2]: possessives [Ref:C674416] From:"John A. Newman" <johnn -at- OTG -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 24 Dec 1997 10:34:00 -0500
I think what we must have here is a difference in definitions. Generally
speaking, a couple of centuries would be 200 years. That's a far cry from
500 to 900 years (12th to 15th centuries). However, I can understand the
confusion. Someone near and dear to me views a couple as anything from
about 2 to 10, whereas I (being much more of an annoying stickler) see a
couple as 2, a few as 3 to 5, and several as about 6 to 12.
Ah, isn't communication fun when it's fraught with such insidious perils?
;-)
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas (no matter how you spend Dec. 25th).
John Newman
OTG Software
johnn -at- otgsoftware -dot- com
-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff.King [SMTP:Geoff -dot- King -at- NA -dot- NWMARKETS -dot- COM]
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 1997 3:02 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re[2]: possessives [Ref:C674416]
----------------------------------------------------
But Michael, what you have written doesn't make sense. If you are
refering to Chaucer (or Middle English) you are perforce referring to a
"couple of centuries ago." (The 12th to 15th centuries. Give or take.)
I must be missing something in this thread.
geoff -dot- king -at- na -dot- nwmarkets -dot- com