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Thu 19 Feb, 2004 07:45 am
I'm not talking about fractions. Of course, you can have two-thirds of a whole if that's what you want. I'm talking about a list. First, second, etc.
I'm editing something in which the author had five items, and two of them were thirds. First, second, third, third, fifth.
And while I'm on the subject, you can't have more than two hands--unless you've been surgically altered. But most of us have just the two. So when you're writing and you say, "On the one hand...," be sure that there's only one other hand. Wish I had a dollar for every time I've found something that says, "On the one hand, I thought this. On the other hand, I thought that. And on the other hand, I thought something else."
I'm rambling and ranting. But these are fairly good proofreading tips for when you're checking what you've written. Now I gotta get some sleep.
Actually, in many cases if some contest is decided where there is a tie for third place, then that's exactly how the stat's would read. First, second, third, third, and fifth.
And of course, a three way tie for third would be First, second, third, third, third, and sixth.
And a four way tie for third would be First, second, third, third, third, third, and seventh.
A five way tie for third would be First, second, third, third, third, third, third, and eighth.
If you had a six way tie for third it would be First, second, third, third, third, third, third, third, and ninth.
It gets more complicated with a seven way tie for third, but it would go First, second, third, third, third, third, third, third, third, and tenth.
Commit this to memory and you easily master the skills of editing.
Wilso and Gus, Thanks for setting straight on this. And all these years I've been wasting my time worrying about two thirds. Live and loin.
The Mote in God's Eye, and The Gripping Hand, but Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle tell of aliens that have three hands... two for tool-use, one for holding.
So one of the aliens' cliches runs 'On the one hand... on the other hand... on the gripping hand...'
Boidy, aren'tcha glad you started this thread? On the one hand, there is Gus who is probably mulitply ambidextrous; one the other hand, you have Wilso--not bad to have Wilso in the other hand! Then there is Seal Poet on the gripping hand--but then I've always thought Seal Poet needed to get a grip. LOL
I tell ya, Di. You try to do a service for the community. And what do you get? A bunch of smartasses. Probably with three cheeks each. Sigh.
Bobbie, what abaht movie sequels. you know the kinda fing. Lefal Weepon 1 thru 33 & a fird or
Or,,,,,, Pork Chops Academy, 1 thru God knows how many and he's not tellin eyever. Strewf, it's enuff to bring tears to your leg.
Here come the city cops, here come the pigs,
here come the honkey boys dressed in blue. They're goin' to whack you, boo, boo, boo.
Here come the city cops, here come the pigs. Porky's gonna chop you, boo, boo, boo."
Quote:I tell ya, Di. You try to do a service for the community. And what do you get? A bunch of smartasses. Probably with three cheeks each. Sigh.
Actually, Roberta, I value your insight more than you realize and consider you to be one of the more valuable contributors to this site.
My "smartass" remarks were directed at Wilso, not you. Please accept my apologies and this single flower as payment for my indiscretion.
Roberta wrote:I tell ya, Di. You try to do a service for the community. And what do you get? A bunch of smartasses. Probably with three cheeks each. Sigh.
It averages out... many here are half-assed.
Hiya Sparrer, So far as I know, there haven't been any sequels that were numbered incorrectly. However, I'm not big on sequels, so I might not have noticed that Police Academy 3 came after Police Academy 4.
Gus, I'm not sure why you're apologizing, but I accept. What a beautiful rose! And thanks for the kind remarks.
SealPoet, ROFLMAO. That was a good one. Wish I'd thought of it.
I've been wondering about the third-place ribbon I carry around in my daytimer. Our dragonboat racing team tied for third place in a big regatta a couple of years ago. So, two teams got third-place ribbons. Do we still get to say we were in third place? Or ... what?
"Lion King 1-1/2" is out on video now. Apparently it tells a story that happens between the beginning of "Lion King" and the end of "Lion King 2"...
Something bothers me about Wilso's explanation of first, second, third, third and fifth. Wouldn't it need to be first, second, third, third and fourth in order to be fair to the also-ran?
Wilso wrote:Actually, in many cases if some contest is decided where there is a tie for third place, then that's exactly how the stat's would read. First, second, third, third, and fifth.
Logically speaking, if there were two or more persons sharing the third place, it can be read: Third, shared by A, B, C ... but if there were a custom to say "Third, Third, Third...", it might be counted as an exception, I suppose?
... now I'm reading other posts here.
@Merry Andrew
I deemed there is a custom or rule for the phenomenon -- one place for one person, so there should be "third, third, fifth...", not "third, third, fourth, fifth..."
I think it's more like, first, second, thirds, fourth, fifth.
In the olymipics you often have ties and they still number the winners in order. 1,2, 3 - 3, 4
What I mean is, you can't delete the fourth place.
Edited to say.........Dammit, I'm too quick on the submit button. I should just pause, count to ten, re-read and so on........
You're digging yourself into a hole here, Ceili.
Ah, let all have honor and be done with it, eh?
Always this jockeying including amoung wimmins. Fooofffff.
Can't we all get along, a now almost famous quote?
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