Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2009

I went to the Mall on Tuesday with a perhaps unique
perspective (aside from being trapped on the fringes
of the crowd, that is): never had heard the guy speak before
-- don't watch TV. Don't follow politics -- never even read

On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:57:07 -0800 (PST) tuyetnhungtsc@gmail.com wrote:

I've never heard this construction. Is it OK to use this as well, or is

1. She is the perfect accountant her predecessor was not.
2. She is the perfect accountant that her predecessor was not.
3. She is the perfect accountant who her predecessor was not.
4. She is the perfect accountant which her predecessor was not.

I used to know a word many years ago that was similar to quasi but
perhaps meant 'appears to be quasi'.
I'm not looking for a synonym for quasi but another word which is
similar in meaning but with a subtle difference.

"The surgeon will attend to your brother and we'll commence
straight-away – My! This is a lovely bedchamber, is it not, Lady Ancaster?"
In the sentence above, the word "This" is capitalized after My!
Yet I've seen this construction:

Could anybody help me with the meaning of the following sentence?
      I’m sure there’s a jinx on this car.
Does it mean that I believe this car will bring 'me' bad luck?
Thanks

What is the name for the process by which adjectives become nouns e.g.
nuclear, dairy, overweight? Is this happening more often?

While listening to the soundtrack to the musical "Wicked" I came across two
lines that made me question the grammar.  I realize that lyricists sometimes
tinker with grammar to make the meter and rhyme work, but it's not clear
whether these are correct or not.

"Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take
the
following oath or affirmation..."
I would write "before he enters on... " but I am in doubt

"Yes, I believe so, Madam."
or
"Yes, I believe so, madam?"
"Yes, I believe you're correct, sir."

I am confused with the usage of " should" conbined with "not only...
but also...".
Does it go this way: Should not only be..... but also......
Or this way: Should be not only..... but also......

We have dissected the Inauguration of President Obama: the oath-taking, the
singing, the instrumental music, the poetry and the speechmaking.
For one man any bungles, infelicities and inadequacies were utterly
irrelevant.

What's the meaning of "two plus points" in:
"Two plus points are the prices (rarely more than $5 a head) and the
locations with many town hostels placed close to town centres."
Is it an idiom? I've googled for it but in vain.

While I was reading the KJV bible, I saw the following sentence, and
was quite curious about the part beginning with "fowl that...:.
1. Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath
life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of

"Before he enters on the execution of his office" (I have read
this in connection with Barack Obama's statement before he
became president of USA).
I read it as his office is executed before he enters the