h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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Ok, I've tried to rectify this.

<<"I was just wondering if this is a very local Northern Ireland expression, or if it's more widely used." Does the fact that the writer is wondering depend on something being a local NI expression? Of course we know that he's trying to say,"I was just wondering whether this is a very local Northern Ireland expression, or whether it's more widely used" from context and common sense, but by using 'if' instead of 'whether' his meaning is ambiguous. It could be taken to mean, "If this is a very local Northern Ireland expression, then in that case I was just wondering", which admittedly would be a bizarre thing to say.>>

If you ignore the "or is it more widely used?" part of the sentence, then the sentence could be taken to mean what you say. However, as the sentence stands, there is no ambiguity. The sentence may be more elegantly phrased (e.g. "I was wondering whether this expression is local to Northern Ireland or is it more widely used?") but the meaning is effectively communicated in both examples.

You need *clear* examples of ambiguity; contradiction in terms though that may sound!

The pronouns in your entry must be consistent; 'the writer' should be a "he" or a "she" in every instance.

Keep polishing KZWG

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That's true.


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Nice one!

What's happening with this entry KZWG? I hope it's heading for inclusion in the Guide

Good question.
I don't know. How does it get into the guide?

I think a Scout has to select it and forward it to the Eds or somesuch. I see the Entry has been moved out of PR to the writing workshop. Did you do that or was it one of the Scouts?

Must have been someone else.

I'm surprised this has been moved without any prior notification

To be honest the Workshop is probably the best place as you have not, as yet, completed the article to a 'finishing point'.

Van, you have been a marvelous in helping your friend keep up the momentum. Please carry on

I look forward to seeing this article return to PR and, eventually seeing on the <./>FrontPage</.>


lil xx

I'd missed this till I saw a reference to it in the Dawkins thread. The whether/if usage is something I'm aware of, and I do try to be careful with it, at least in writing.

With a little polishing, this will make a respectable addition to the Edited Guide.

TRiG.

I must admit, I don't really agree, TRiG. It's essentially a grammatical pet peeve dressed as an Entry.

Ignore this posting please, it's a test.

Don't make me do anything Pastey,

though this is relatively close to good standard - I might grab it after my exams (tag)