'between' and 'among'
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'between' and 'among'
Here I am again, Kathleen in Norway, with another disturbance about grammar. To wit:
from Alphadictionary.com/bb, the list of topics, 'Languages of the World' -- A discussion of the peculiarities of languages and the differences between them.
Ja, picky, picky! But hey, doesn't anybody care about correct English as she is spoken, or is it that I am too far out of it?
K.
from Alphadictionary.com/bb, the list of topics, 'Languages of the World' -- A discussion of the peculiarities of languages and the differences between them.
Ja, picky, picky! But hey, doesn't anybody care about correct English as she is spoken, or is it that I am too far out of it?
K.
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Since there are multiple Grand Pandjandrums here you should probably choose among them.
We all have distinct interests and as you can tell from my posts, strict adherence to grammatical rules isn't mine.
I'm frequently amazed that I am capable of writing a remotely understandable sentence--if it is grammatically correct--bonus! I do bemoan the seeming loss of even basic grammar abilities in our society.
My interest tends to lie in word history and development--it's fascinating to me how words come about and meaning change with time.
We all have distinct interests and as you can tell from my posts, strict adherence to grammatical rules isn't mine.
I'm frequently amazed that I am capable of writing a remotely understandable sentence--if it is grammatically correct--bonus! I do bemoan the seeming loss of even basic grammar abilities in our society.
My interest tends to lie in word history and development--it's fascinating to me how words come about and meaning change with time.
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Thanks for your patience! I know this is 6th-grade grammar, and I did learn it way back then. The thing is, I keep seeing the words misused.
Because I am involved with editing and translating, it is important to me to know what is current good English usage, to avoid sounding archaic. And living here in Norway, I don't have so much chance to explore these small things.
However, Slava (bless you!) has tipped me on to a book 'Elements of Style', and I have ordered it. Will depend on that being current and correct!
Because I am involved with editing and translating, it is important to me to know what is current good English usage, to avoid sounding archaic. And living here in Norway, I don't have so much chance to explore these small things.
However, Slava (bless you!) has tipped me on to a book 'Elements of Style', and I have ordered it. Will depend on that being current and correct!
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Hi, Skinem! Ski-nem, or Skin-em?
I don't find grammar all that sexy, either! But it is a tool in my work. My earlier grammar teachers would be amazed at my pirketiness.
Word History - and Dr. Bob's Word Play - are fun. I am, here in Norway, especially interested in the ancient Norron language roots surviving. For example, most of the nautical words in English come from Norron!
Kathleen
I don't find grammar all that sexy, either! But it is a tool in my work. My earlier grammar teachers would be amazed at my pirketiness.
Word History - and Dr. Bob's Word Play - are fun. I am, here in Norway, especially interested in the ancient Norron language roots surviving. For example, most of the nautical words in English come from Norron!
Kathleen
'Between' can be used with more than two items to make the following distinction:'Between' and 'Among'
Tchaa, I was taught that 'between' was between two items, and 'among' was, well, ja, among more than two items.
1. The plate was passed between the guests who were seated in a circle. (= it was passed in a circle from one guest to the next.)
2. The plate was passed among the guests who were seated in a circle. (= it was passed randomly from one guest to another.)
My bad. Most of the threads are ancient, so when I had a quick glance at the thread and saw the date 2006, I took this to be the start date. Turns out it was the date one of the posters joined the forum.
Last edited by Enigma on Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
What you see, yet can not see over, is as good as infinite. ~Thomas Carlyle
- Slava
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Aye, oops. However, you're forgiven.My bad. Most of the threads are anchient, so when I had a quick glance at the thread and saw the date 2006, I took this to be the start date. Turns out it was the date one of the posters joined the forum.
Now, back to our muttons here: what do you think of Audiensus' examples?
To me, #1 should mean the plate arrived at, or left, the table by going between two of the guests. If it were passed in an orderly circle, we'd say it was passed around. Even if we do go for this odd (to me) construction, the plate would still be going from one to the next, a step at a time. Only two people at a time would be involved.1. The plate was passed between the guests who were seated in a circle. (= it was passed in a circle from one guest to the next.)
2. The plate was passed among the guests who were seated in a circle. (= it was passed randomly from one guest to another.)
I agree with you. It sounds like the plate is going between two guest. It's a tad ambiguous, huh. Mind, I can't talk: I spelled ancient wrong. I changed it in my post, hoping it would go unnoticed by others, but you had to quote my post now didn't youAye, oops. However, you're forgiven.My bad. Most of the threads are anchient, so when I had a quick glance at the thread and saw the date 2006, I took this to be the start date. Turns out it was the date one of the posters joined the forum.
Now, back to our muttons here: what do you think of Audiensus' examples?
To me, #1 should mean the plate arrived at, or left, the table by going between two of the guests. If it were passed in an orderly circle, we'd say it was passed around. Even if we do go for this odd (to me) construction, the plate would still be going from one to the next, a step at a time. Only two people at a time would be involved.1. The plate was passed between the guests who were seated in a circle. (= it was passed in a circle from one guest to the next.)
2. The plate was passed among the guests who were seated in a circle. (= it was passed randomly from one guest to another.)
I believe Audiendus's second sentence is correct, however.
What you see, yet can not see over, is as good as infinite. ~Thomas Carlyle
- Slava
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I admit I saw it, but chose not to comment. However, what does spelling have to do with talking?I agree with you. It sounds like the plate is going between two guest. It's a tad ambiguous, huh. Mind, I can't talk: I spelled ancient wrong. I changed it in my post, hoping it would go unnoticed by others, but you had to quote my post now didn't you
The Oxford English Dictionary states:
We say "Switzerland lies between France, Germany, Italy and Austria" and "a treaty was signed between the three nations". Here we are referring to a single collective relationship, not a series of bilateral ones.
And to return to my earlier post, what alternative word would you suggest if the guests were seated in a line, or if the plate only travelled a small part of the circle? "Between" seems a nice versatile word which can be used to cover all such possibilities.
It points out that between has been used with more than two items for as long as the word has existed, i.e. over 1,000 years.[Between] is still the only word available to express the relation of a thing to many surrounding things severally and individually, among expressing a relation to them collectively and vaguely.
We say "Switzerland lies between France, Germany, Italy and Austria" and "a treaty was signed between the three nations". Here we are referring to a single collective relationship, not a series of bilateral ones.
And to return to my earlier post, what alternative word would you suggest if the guests were seated in a line, or if the plate only travelled a small part of the circle? "Between" seems a nice versatile word which can be used to cover all such possibilities.
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