Discussion Groups / English Usage / June 2007

(1)Can "and" be used to start a new sentence?
(2)Also, is there anything wrong with the following sentence?  Should
the apostrophy used behind "majors"  be deleted?
"His English is better than that of many English majors'. "

When I want to take a picture for somebody.
I said:
" Can I take a picture ? "
Is that correct ?

Hi I have a question about age.
Today I went to some office with a female friend who was in her late
twenties. She was not able to gain permission into the building at
first, and the person at the gate called his supervisor to report

In /Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy/ George Smiley checks in at the Hotel
Islay under the name of Barraclough.
The proprietor of the hotel, a major's widow, then asks him: "Your
father wasn't a Greenjacket, was he, dear?"

Is any phrase more annoyingly doublespeak than
this surcharge tacked on to print your tickets?

Earlier this week, Gore Vidal did a live show in interview format here
in Toronto. He made some unflattering comments regarding some modern
authors, including a reference to 'shortbread' (as in books that tell
you how the author makes shortbread, if I understood him). Even the

When I say "Thank you!" to person A.
The person A says "Ya"
The "Ya" means "no problem"?
Best regards,

A cardboard box with an air pump, some hose, and a fitting to bubble
air through, meant to aerate a dugout (large hole in the ground for
the purpose of collecting melt water and rain).
"Complete Doug out air Rater Hose & Pump"

Hi, everyone,
How do you differenciate between the idea that "language is systemic"
and "language is systematic"?
Thanks!

and Washington Irving.
Any others with capital city first names?

What could be the meaning of "set" in relation to grapes here?
To put them in a wine press in order to make wine?
----
O but it is time, it is time, mama

Is "dressed out" a BrE or Irish version of "dressed up?"
-----
SHE is foremost of those that I would hear praised.
I have gone about the house, gone up and down

In the Danish comedy "Jeppe of the Hill", a dog is named Feierfax.
Does anyone know if this is the same as the English Fairfax?

Is there anything wrong with the following sentences where these two
words are used respectively.
(1)He will forward to you whatever he deems is appropriate.
(2)He will forward to you whatever he deems appropriate.

Can someone tell me why a wedding breakfast is so called bearing in
mind that the meal usually happens in the afternoon and is in no sense
a breakfast?