Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2008

Or how would you guys say this sentence?
thanks.

Some time ago, I read some posts here about Hugh Laurie. They
mentioned his "Bertie Wooster" character. Last night, I spotted it on
the guide, and tuned to it.
The most interesting thing about it was that I could not see him as

Is "having told" or "having seen" perfect participle?

I was reading a biography of someone, and it stated that she was "born
in New York [year], a first-generation American." To which I
immediately thunked, "that's not right, she'd be second-generation
American."

Is the "waltz" considered a "cotillon" form?:-)
------
At three o'clock the cotillon began. Emma did not know how to waltz.
À trois heures du matin, le cotillon commença. Emma ne savait pas valser.

Is "it" really necessary here?
I would understand it in:
As to the rest of the world, it was lost, ...
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When my store was built out and the paperwork was handed to me it was given
to me in "vanilla shell", I wondered why the word vanilla is often used for
a basic or generic state.
Does anyone have an idea why vanilla is used to describe a generic or basic

A prisoner's rights advocate used the word "decarceration" in a
radio interview I just heard.  Has anyone heard this before?  It's
instantly understandable, but it's new to me.
--Jeff

It's interesting how the functionality of foreign words changes
as they are used in English. Several times, I have heard and
read on menus "With au jus"  and yesterday, on a cooking show,
"That's going to make a great Ow Jew". At least the "s" was not

I'm wondering if there have been any systematic studies of the following
phenomenon, for which there is much anecdotal evidence.  Words for low-status
groups have a tendency to follow a certain evolutionary trajectory:
1. Various words for members of the group enter common currency, ...

I would be deficient in public service spirit if I did not share this
important communication, just received:
++++++++++++++++
Subject: Negroes admire with the of the size - we will surpass them!

The BBC news showing Ted Kennedy leaving the hospital
referred to him as the Patriarch of the Kennedy family.
Ted is a lot younger than me, so it came as a shock to
realize I am a patriarch, being the oldest living member

Is there any rule concerning when a number is written with words and
when with figures. I mean, in a text you can write 'one' or '1'. When
should I use the former and when the latter?

Issue came up at work regarding proper capitalization of the word "state"
when referring to geographic areas.  References seemed to differ also.
General agreement for lower case when discussing "states" in general such as
"Many states have crime issues."

Hey..look...im just trying to
help out my fellow Hyundai enthusiasts ;   if you dont appreciate
that, then pass on responding to the post i made.  But dont  be
pomptuously presumptuous !