with

In the first blank, "in" or "of," either one, could be used. I would think that "of" would be the answer supplied by most native speakers. In the second blank, either "in" or "with" could be used. I would think that native speakers would be most likely to use "in." In the third blank, you definitely need "the."

But don't forget to use non-ital. Anyone: What's a word for "not italic"with many thanks

Agreed. Anyhow I would, no matter how few of us a2k'ers would deny it of me

Hafta think about that'n

In typography, roman and normal are alternative antonyms of italic. As far as I can tell, 'roman' is spelt all in lower case.

Thank you Tes
I feel a new term rising, "romnor" or maybe just "rono"

Don't talk about me, don't talk to me, don't quote my posts, you great braying jackass. You are a standing embarrassment to all educated native speakers of English.

Thank you all, especially Setanta. But Dale said

-no matter how few of us a2k'ers would deny it of me.

Does it mean we could say 'deny sth of sb' (=deny sb sth)? Or is it a fixed phrase whose structure cannot be used else where?

-no matter how few of us a2k'ers would deny it of me.

No, WB, sorry. What I meant was, few a2k'ers would believe English my native tongue

Do you mean you misspoke?

Oh not at all, WB. I hit the bell every time
My own bell of course

I know hit the deck (=fall to the ground), but what does hit the bell mean?

Good q, WB. The usu expr, "ring"

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=I+ring+the+bell+every+time

In the British mercantile navy, traditionally, "strike the bell" was common. The bell signified the end of the watch.

Strike the bell, Second Mate,
Let's go below
Look out to windward,
You can see it's going to blow...

Aft on the poopdeck
Walking about
There is the second mate
So sturdy and so stout
What he is thinking of
He only knows himsel'
Oh, we wish that he would hurry up
And strike, strike the bell

Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it's going to blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it is fell
We wish the you would hurry up
And strike, strike the bell

Down on the maindeck
Working at the pumps
There is the larboard watch
Ready for their bunks
Over to windward
They see a great swell
They're wishing that the second mate
Would strike, strike the bell

Aft at the wheel
Poor Anderson stands
Grasping the spokes
In his cold, mittened hands
Looking at the compass
The course is clear as hell
He's wishing that the second mate
Would strike, strike the bell

For'ad in the fo'c'sle head
Keeping sharp lookout
There is Johnny standing
Ready for to shout
"Lights' burning bright, sir
And everything is well"
He's wishing that the second mate
Would strike, strike the bell

Aft on the quarterdeck
The gallant captain stands
Looking to windward
With his glasses in his hand
What he is thinking of
We know very well
He's thinking more of shortening sail
Than strike, strike the bell

Actually, to strike the bell means to announce the passage of one half hour. A watch is four hours long (except for the dog watches, which are two hours long), and a bell is struck each 30 minutes. So, one bell in the forenoon watch is 8:30 a.m., two bells is 9:00 a.m., three bells is 9:30 a.m., etc. Eight bells in the forenoon watch signals the end of the watch.

Why thank you Mac, I don't feel quite the idiot arising this morn

Good answers. Thank you.

Quite welcome WB, for what mine's worth anyhow