Discussion Groups / English Usage / September 2009

Which is correct? I find many variations online and can't find a
definitive answer.
1. "my time as a masters student"
2.  "my time as a Masters student"

[x-posted to <alt.usage.english> and <sci.lang>]
On the current season of the US version of the trashy 'reality-TV'
series _Big Brother_*, there's a contestant from Chicago who
pronounces "bully" as ['bOl~i], as if it were (in my Southern

"The latest news happening at this hour".
Just heard that from a TV announcer. I guess "the news" is no longer
clear enough.

I came across the British catchphrase "Bob's your uncle" meaning "that's
it" or whatever but the derivations found by Google seem rather
unlikely. According to Wikipedia, it is a catchphrase sometimes claimed
to date to 1887, when British Prime Minister Robert Cecil, Lord

Since returning to aue I've been distracted a number of times by
messages appearing in what is obviously the wrong order.  My newsreader
(Thunderbird) seems to be threading incorrectly.
My present settings are

I looked up "very" in the dictionary today and saw its use as an
adverb, very quickly, very slowly, very lovingly etc.
However its meanings when used as an adjective are, actual and
precise.

I wonder about "hippy and bosomy" here.
This might have been well before the 60s, not sure yet. The novel was
published in 1980, thus it may be possible this is  indeed the 60s
"hippy."

How do you feel about
"might have been"
instead of
"might be"