Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

Juan was single after Evita died.  Isabelita was single after Juan
died.  Do you and "John" exchange tips?  Tell him about that "advice"
thing.

} "Steve" <javacc2@gmail.com> wrote
}
}> I want to clarify the definition of 'single' in the US. Do we
}> call a person who is not married but with relationship as
}> 'single'? If not, what do we call on that?
}
} "Single" means legally unmarried. People in relationships can be
} called "a couple" or can be said to be "living together" or living
} separately but "dating" or "seeing someone" or a host of other terms.

"Single" sometimes means (adult but) never married, when contrasted with
"widowed" and "divorced".  Children are almost never actually called
"single".

Sometimes semicommitted single adults are called "unavailable".

}> please advice.
}
} "Please advise".

Picky, picky.

I first met this term in 1979-80, when somebody published a poem about
it in, almost certainly, the San Francisco Chronicle. It's gone from my
mind now, although Googling reveals a much shorter version attributed to
Charles Osgood (1981) by several sources:

    There's nothing that I wouldn't do
    If you would be my POSSLQ.
    You live with me, and I with you,
    And you will be my POSSLQ.
    I'll be your friend and so much more;
    That's what a POSSLQ is for.

The search also turned up this interesting variant:

    I will give my heart to you,
    if you will be my POSSLQ.
    Unless you solemnly confess,
    you are really OTPOTSS.