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Grammar Reform

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ONLY NICE THINGS

13:12 / 20.08.02

Indeed. "Pair of underpants", yes.

Interesting one, though. Trouse, the original word (hence trews) is singular, describing a loose-fitting garment running from the waist to the ankles, but it always seems to be plural in English. Likewise pantaloons and thus pants. Hmmm.

Saveloy

13:25 / 20.08.02

Well, that might have scuppered my theory then, which was that trousers would originally have been made up of two or more pieces which you would have tied together to form a single garment in situ, as it were. Just as sleeves were originally seperate objects which you tied to a jerkin or whatever torso covering article you happened to be wearing.

Might have scuppered it, but I'm posting it anyway. Is there a tailor in the house?

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

16:58 / 20.08.02

I hate the use of "an" rather than "a" before an "h"... "an hotel", etc... it may be correct but it really fucks me off.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

18:19 / 20.08.02

"An hotel" isn't even correct, strictly speaking. As I understand things, it's down to the French pronunciation of hotel being 'otel (sort of); the "an" got sort of stuck on later. Anyway it's codswallop-- a Le Piat D'Or-flavoured affectation that's somehow insinuated itself into common usage. I think.

aus

18:34 / 20.08.02

I agree that the correct phrase is "a hotel" unless you're in the habit of dropping the "h".

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

19:12 / 20.08.02

Cheers guys for clearing that up... hah! I was right all along! It DOES suck! Even the language says so!

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