With regards to the shirt on offer in the competition, isn't there a rather vital comma missing?
"Enter, stranger" means "Come in, person I don't know".
"Enter stranger" means "Come in using a more unusual method" or ... well, I'm sure I don't need to explain the innuendo.
Sorry, I was bored and felt like being pedantic.
Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
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Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
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Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
Of course, "Enter stranger" is not strictly grammatically correct either, as "stranger" here is being used as a comparative adjective, and therefore should not be used to modify a verb, like "enter". The correct statement, using the comparative adverb form of "strange", would be "enter more strangely".
Sorry to be even more pedantic, but I'm bored too - I've run out of QI entries to mark!
Sorry to be even more pedantic, but I'm bored too - I've run out of QI entries to mark!
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Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
I vaguely remember this was discussed a few years back. I can't for the life of me recall what conclusions we all drew, but it clearly wasn't considered remotely important enough for Illusion to change the forum greeting. (And I happen to agree with him 100% on that...) He has changed it since then, mind.
Last edited by HStorm on 14 Mar 2007, 17:55, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
That depends on which interpretation of "Enter Stranger" you are using. The latter option I gave still uses 'stranger' as a noun and is therefore fine. Whilst "Enter more strangely" would be a more correct version of the former option, "Enter Stranger" is not grammatically incorrect in that sense, but is instead syntactically incorrect. I think. I'm a little hazy on the more obscure technicalities of English these days.Eyeshield wrote:Of course, "Enter stranger" is not strictly grammatically correct either, as "stranger" here is being used as a comparative adjective, and therefore should not be used to modify a verb, like "enter". The correct statement, using the comparative adverb form of "strange", would be "enter more strangely".
Ditto. Except for the bit about marking QI entries.Eyeshield wrote:Sorry to be even more pedantic, but I'm bored too - I've run out of QI entries to mark!
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Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
Well, I think we can all agree that the phrase "Enter, stranger," as used on Knightmare and the T-shirt should have the comma in there, and that I need some more QI entries.
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Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
The comma is there; it just needs to be looked for.
When it blends into its surroundings like that, it is known as a Comma Chameleon, as first identified by Mr. B. George during the 1980s.
I consider myself a pedant, and can get very frustrated about absent commas, especially online. I agree that "Enter, Stranger" would be better with a comma. However, I wouldn't want punctuative concern to overshadow the generosity of the competition. I hope that both TShirts365 and this forum benefit with increased activity.
When it blends into its surroundings like that, it is known as a Comma Chameleon, as first identified by Mr. B. George during the 1980s.
I consider myself a pedant, and can get very frustrated about absent commas, especially online. I agree that "Enter, Stranger" would be better with a comma. However, I wouldn't want punctuative concern to overshadow the generosity of the competition. I hope that both TShirts365 and this forum benefit with increased activity.
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Re: Enter Stranger T-shirt
Oh, well played, very well played. I doff my hat.Drassil wrote:When it blends into its surroundings like that, it is known as a Comma Chameleon, as first identified by Mr. B. George during the 1980s.
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