A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English

DerAlte · 22nd June 2013, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by saket77

... if the usage is right. ...

In India, it is either "anything goes", or "God only knows" if there is no other source of information / confirmation!!!

venkat_iyer · 22nd June 2013, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by saket77

Again, just wanted to know is the usage is right. Shouldn't it be 'but it is obvious' than just using 'but obvious'?
Regards,
Saket

I normally go with "Isn't it obvious?" with the right amount of sarcasm, if needed

Thad E Ginathom · 23rd June 2013, 02:37

Words like but can be used in many ways, which is why I asked for context. Without it, there is no clue.

The simplest words can be the toughest. I remember, as a child, discovering that the dictionary definition of as was very long indeed!

vivekiny2k · 23rd June 2013, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAlte

Old English expression "(It is) but obvious" - the "It is" gets left out for brevity. Possibly used only in India, to convey that what the person-spoken-to is perhaps not understanding, is very obvious to the person-who-spoke. Usually this happens when one expresses wonder at something that others know well.

It is anything but obvious, or it is nothing but obvious

?

Rameshdude · 23rd June 2013, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

It is anything but obvious, or it is nothing but obvious

?

Or is it "just too obvious"

Thad E Ginathom · 23rd June 2013, 21:36

It is not obvious at all!

anything but obvious means ... it's not at all obvious

just too obvious means ... you can't miss it. Or maybe its a comment on the scarlet colour you painted the car.

it is but ... is a slightly poetic way of saying "only." It is but a little way further means we don't have far to go. I expect obviousness could be in there somewhere!

anupmathur · 1st July 2013, 06:56

The best of newspapers report in English that would make many of us cry.

Here is an excerpt from today's The Times of India:

Quote:

Ludhiana's dirty water peps up teen to find cure

Quote:

LUDHIANA: A visit to the city helped a girl from Mohali to come up with a way of treating water laced with detergents. The Class XI student has made it to the final stage of the Google Science Fair, 2013. Srishti Asthana, 15, student of Science Stream of Millenium School, has been named among the top 15 finalists of the Google Science Fair, Google India, said an official statement. Such an idea clicked her during a visit to a textile industry in Ludhiana, where she saw the dyed water draining out and causing water pollution. Srishti wishes to persuade a carrier in "pure science."
……

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/20852020.cms

DerAlte · 1st July 2013, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

The best of newspapers report in English that would make many of us cry. ...

But then, we are used to that standard of English from ToI - everywhere in India!!!

That sentence, though it sounds incomplete, is / must be about imploring ('persuade') her parents to allow her to join a college ('carrier') for a 'Pure Science' course (not Engineering or such).

AVR · 1st July 2013, 13:41

A particular thing that irks me quite often when people speak English is the phrase "I didn't knew that..." instead of "I didn't know that..." especially when referring to something in the past.
I think the confusion arises from the fact that since you are talking about something in the past, 'know' should be replaced with 'knew'. I don't know if its a pan-India thing or specific to Gujarat.

Thoughts?

anupmathur · 1st July 2013, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVR

... I don't know if its a pan-India thing or specific to Gujarat.

Thoughts?

Ha ha, it is pan-India, I assure you!
And plural of anything is with an apostrophe! e.g. mango's!

AVR · 1st July 2013, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Ha ha, it is pan-India, I assure you!
And plural of anything is with an apostrophe! e.g. mango's!

This does seem to be a rather common issue then. Strangely, I have run into many people who speak English very well but the "knew" creeps into one of their sentences and I go like

P.S. Thanks for the correction! Yes, "Its" is a bad habit that I haven't been able to get out of! But I think you also meant to say that "And plural of anything is without an apostrophe? Right?

anupmathur · 1st July 2013, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVR

...
P.S. Thanks for the correction! Yes, "Its" is a bad habit that I haven't been able to get out of! But I think you also meant to say that "And plural of anything is without an apostrophe? Right?

It should be it's when you mean 'it is'.
And I did mean what I wrote; the plural form of countable objects is spelt with an apostrophe by these gents who use 'knew' for 'know'!

AVR · 1st July 2013, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

It should be it's when you mean 'it is'.
And I did mean what I wrote; the plural form of countable objects is spelt with an apostrophe by these gents who use 'knew' for 'know'!

Oh yeah. Now I get it. Apologies for being dense there. Yes, I didn't knew that its a big issue beyond Gujarat!

anupmathur · 1st July 2013, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVR

... Apologies for being dense there....

No no no! The head banging was for the enlightened gents, not you!

dark.knight · 1st July 2013, 17:50

Many small examples :

How was you're day?

Your late.

Saying ok instead of yes.. big difference and happens often in corporate circles. Eg : Q

o you know what to do today? Ans : Ok

I once read a memo that went "Bare in mind". Not that I'm super-particular about these but sometimes in formal communication it becomes sticky.

23rd June 2013, 02:37	#1878
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,128 Thanked: 27,632 Times	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English Words like but can be used in many ways, which is why I asked for context. Without it, there is no clue. The simplest words can be the toughest. I remember, as a child, discovering that the dictionary definition of as was very long indeed!
	() Thanks

23rd June 2013, 21:36	#1881
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,128 Thanked: 27,632 Times	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English It is not obvious at all! anything but obvious means ... it's not at all obvious just too obvious means ... you can't miss it. Or maybe its a comment on the scarlet colour you painted the car. it is but ... is a slightly poetic way of saying "only." It is but a little way further means we don't have far to go. I expect obviousness could be in there somewhere!
	() Thanks

1st July 2013, 13:41	#1884
AVR BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 979 Thanked: 859 Times View My Garage	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English A particular thing that irks me quite often when people speak English is the phrase "I didn't knew that..." instead of "I didn't know that..." especially when referring to something in the past. I think the confusion arises from the fact that since you are talking about something in the past, 'know' should be replaced with 'knew'. I don't know if its a pan-India thing or specific to Gujarat. Thoughts?
	() Thanks

1st July 2013, 17:50	#1890
dark.knight Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Beans Town Posts: 1,847 Thanked: 8,354 Times	Re: A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English Many small examples : How was you're day? Your late. Saying ok instead of yes.. big difference and happens often in corporate circles. Eg : Q o you know what to do today? Ans : Ok I once read a memo that went "Bare in mind". Not that I'm super-particular about these but sometimes in formal communication it becomes sticky.
	() Thanks