Caroline’s Comments (group member since Aug 03, 2012)

Caroline’s comments from the Language & Grammar group.

Newengland wrote: "Yeah, ineffective repetition is a whole lot more prevalent than effective repetition.

(P.S. Note that I used the word "repetition" twice in that sentence. "Do as I say, not as I do" rears its ugly..."

Actually I thought it was very effective there!

Ah, thank you! I hadn't even noticed. (Duh!)

Hi Newengland. Would "ending" be okay? I am intrigued as to why you don't like stopping!

Lovely! Thank you Danny....

I would be grateful for some help. Regarding 18th century slavery I wrote the following sentence....

"Wilberforce and his colleagues were hoping that by stopping the trade they would apply a tourniquet that would stop the practise itself, but this was not to be."

I think I have spelt practise wrongly, I think it should be "practice". I would be grateful if someone would confirm this.

*Runs off to change "hopefully" to "I hope"*

Thank you Newengland, that was most interesting. I've been misusing 'hopefully' forever I think.

Thank you very much Carol! I will go and change over to your version now....

Hi, I wonder if I could have some help please?

Is the following sentence correct?

"Hopefully 21 years of inculcation from British culture will arm her against swampy miasmas and crazy Floridians"

Or should that be "inculcation IN British culture", (or something else?)

Ha ha ha, love anti-fanity!

40c? I would collapse! I wish I could send you some of the chilly winds and dank skies we are experiencing up here in the UK! They are most invigorating....

:-D

Joanne wrote: "After my husband died at age 50 from acute leukemia, all I wanted from people was a simple "I'm sorry." I did NOT want to hear "He's in a better place," or "God must have needed him," or any of tha..."

Gosh, that must have been very tough.

It's also good to hear what you say Joanne, about expressing these sentiments, and yes, I totally agree with you - sincerity is always vital, and often the simplest statements are the best.

Carol wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Thank you Carol! I found what you had to say incredibly useful. Just what I wanted to know. I will practice voicing an alternative form of sympathy. Many thanks for that!"
..."
Oh no - you were so nice when you said it too :-)

Thank you Carol! I found what you had to say incredibly useful. Just what I wanted to know. I will practice voicing an alternative form of sympathy. Many thanks for that!

All my life I have used the term "I'm sorry" as an expression of sympathy, e.g., "I'm so sorry you've broken your foot!" or "I heard you had a puncture on your way here, I'm sorry". In recent years though people have said to me "Why are you sorry? It isn't your fault".

I find it very hard to stop saying I'm sorry in this context - it just rolls off my tongue automatically. I am curious though. Have I always been wrong is saying I'm sorry in this way, or is it something that has just changed recently? In the olden days (like when I was a youngster), was it okay to say "I'm sorry" as an expression of sympathy?

I am getting such yearnings about wombats. Could there be anything more adorable? I think this is the first one I have ever seen *___*

Angela - I think it's mostly a personality thing - I have always been happy spending time by myself. Christmas day though carries a lot of weight in our society about being a day for friends and family. I therefore don't think it's a good time to go without a good dollop of social input. I ring close friends and family on Christmas morning and share my good wishes for the day, and the year ahead. I get lots of verbal hugs. I also connect with old pals online and type them my good wishes too. So, I'm alone, but I don't feel at all lonely. I then have a lovely meal at lunchtime (all my favourite treats), and in the afternoon do lots of reading, or watch TV - which is often very good on Christmas day. I had such a nice time last year. I hope very much that you get to enjoy your Christmas too.

I'm not sure what to do about the span of a whole Christmas holiday off school. Could you do a bit of voluntary work? Often that involves mixing with people in friendly and chatty environments.

Carol - Wow, your Christmas presents sounds lovely, especially the painted ornaments for trees!

Newengland - Good luck with the mayhem of a school gathering momentum for Christmas! I work in a supermarket so also have to contend with Christmas mania.

Gabi - sorry for that, it was just my sloppy reading. So, you don't live in THAT paradise (but hopefully in another one). I wish you power and exuberance for Christmas day!

Angela - Last year for the first time I spent Christmas by myself, and absolutely loved it. Plan to do the same again this year. I shall be working on Christmas Eve (in the craziness of a supermarket), and will spend Christmas day in a blissful haze of peace and quiet.

Carol - Ahhhh...making your own stuff is wonderful. I make my own cards (just using my own photographs, but I do the card cutting and gluing etc), and that is enough to poop me out. I think homemade presents though are the ultimate treat. I have a pal in Portugal who always makes the most delicious Christmas gifts - last year it was strips of candid orange peal dipped in dark chocolate. Mmmmmmmm..... The best present ever. What sort of homemade gifts do you make?

Gabi - Frazer Island looks like the ultimate British fantasy of paradise! (I googled it). How amazing that you live there... Sorry to hear about the dingos. I remember when I was about 10 I wrote a 'book' about a dingo. How sad that tourists are feeding them. It's such a silly thing to do.