To start...or For Starting
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- 2StarLounger
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To start...or For Starting
The chairman has the responsibility to start the meeting on time.
or
The chairman has the responsibility for starting the meeting on time.
Is one 'more correct' than the other????
Thanks
or
The chairman has the responsibility for starting the meeting on time.
Is one 'more correct' than the other????
Thanks
Mike J
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Re: To start...or For Starting
They are both a bit clumsy, how about "The chairman is responsible for starting the meeting on time". We no longer use the term chairman due to it's gender connotations, the preferred term here is now "The chair is responsible for starting the meeting on time."
StuartR
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- 2StarLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
Thanks Stuart....
That sounds better.
(Ha!, In this meeting, all of the 'chair' are men, so I guess both could be used)
That sounds better.
(Ha!, In this meeting, all of the 'chair' are men, so I guess both could be used)
Mike J
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Re: To start...or For Starting
"The chair must start the meeting on time"?
John Gray
"(or one of the team)" - how your hospital appointment letter indicates that you won't be seeing the Consultant...
"(or one of the team)" - how your hospital appointment letter indicates that you won't be seeing the Consultant...
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- 2StarLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
OR, the head honcho will start talking first?John Gray wrote:"The chair must start the meeting on time"?
BOB
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
I've had a problem with this politically correct and non-gender lingo for quite some time, but who am I to complain!
A "chair" is an inanimate object and (in my mind) does NOT describe a person. People and chairs are not the same. Boo, hiss to all the PC mongers in the world.
My letter carrier used to be called a postman and now is known as a mail carrier and that's OK with me. A garbage man is now called a refuse collector and that's OK with me too.
But a "chair?" No way...
A "chair" is an inanimate object and (in my mind) does NOT describe a person. People and chairs are not the same. Boo, hiss to all the PC mongers in the world.
My letter carrier used to be called a postman and now is known as a mail carrier and that's OK with me. A garbage man is now called a refuse collector and that's OK with me too.
But a "chair?" No way...
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
How about the Seat of government?Bigaldoc wrote:I've had a problem with this politically correct and non-gender lingo for quite some time, but who am I to complain!
A "chair" is an inanimate object and (in my mind) does NOT describe a person. People and chairs are not the same. Boo, hiss to all the PC mongers in the world.
My letter carrier used to be called a postman and now is known as a mail carrier and that's OK with me. A garbage man is now called a refuse collector and that's OK with me too.
But a "chair?" No way...
That kinda fits today's lawmakers.
BOB
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- UraniumLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
I was taught (more than half a century ago) that an infinitive (to start) is a stronger form than a gerund (for starting). I'm certain that was an opinion. I know nothing about what might have informed that opinion. Heck . . . I'm not even certain that I properly identified an infinitive.
Bob's yer Uncle
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
The word "chair" (of meetings) is non-gender-specific. Rather like the use of "their" instead of "her/his", as in "The visitor hung their coat on the coat-stand". It's not a particularly elegant form, but it serves a purpose.
Instead of "chair" would you have preferred "Madam Chairperson"?!
Instead of "chair" would you have preferred "Madam Chairperson"?!
John Gray
"(or one of the team)" - how your hospital appointment letter indicates that you won't be seeing the Consultant...
"(or one of the team)" - how your hospital appointment letter indicates that you won't be seeing the Consultant...
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Re: To start...or For Starting
My background in language is so old, I don't know why I feel the way I do about some things, but to me the word "their" is plural and I wouldn't use it as your example. Nor would I say "The boy hung their coat ..."John Gray wrote:... like the use of "their" instead of "her/his", as in "The visitor hung their coat on the coat-stand"...
Better than "Madam Chair."John Gray wrote:Instead of "chair" would you have preferred "Madam Chairperson"?!
Just my thoughts but what do I know...
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Re: To start...or For Starting
I have always thought of "their" as plural, but the usage has changed over the years and it is now often used as a gender neutral pronoun.
I would not expect anyone to say "The boy hung their coat...", but I would expect to hear "The nurse hung their coat..." or "The doctor hung their coat..."
I would not expect anyone to say "The boy hung their coat...", but I would expect to hear "The nurse hung their coat..." or "The doctor hung their coat..."
StuartR
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Re: To start...or For Starting
For some reason, I remember from lessons that a singular noun used singular pronouns, verbs, etc. So boy is one person and boys are two people or more. Boy is - boys are - boy hangs his coat - boys hang their coats.......Bigaldoc wrote:My background in language is so old, I don't know why I feel the way I do about some things, but to me the word "their" is plural and I wouldn't use it as your example. Nor would I say "The boy hung their coat ..."John Gray wrote:... like the use of "their" instead of "her/his", as in "The visitor hung their coat on the coat-stand"...
Better than "Madam Chair."John Gray wrote:Instead of "chair" would you have preferred "Madam Chairperson"?!
Just my thoughts but what do I know...
I too am tired of political correctness when it becomes silly.
added: To me doctor is one and doctors are more than one....the same goes for nurse or nurses. There is a difference!
Skitterbug
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A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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Re: To start...or For Starting
Skitter and BigAl are on spot, and correct. Next we will HAVE to start accepting all of these new "TXTING" short words as being correct. Some schools already are accepting them in their term papers.
I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living
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Re: To start...or For Starting
It's not a matter of correct or incorrect. Language use changes with time, and this usage of "their" as a gender neutral pronoun is now very common in some places. Whether this will become an accepted usage everywhere, or will die out over time, none of us can know yet.DaveA wrote:Skitter and BigAl are on spot, and correct...
StuartR
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Re: To start...or For Starting
Not a language expert but I always thought of "their" as being a possessive pronoun?StuartR wrote:It's not a matter of correct or incorrect. Language use changes with time, and this usage of "their" as a gender neutral pronoun is now very common in some places. Whether this will become an accepted usage everywhere, or will die out over time, none of us can know yet.DaveA wrote:Skitter and BigAl are on spot, and correct...
Edited to add:
Last edited by viking33 on 19 Mar 2011, 18:12, edited 1 time in total.
BOB
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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- 2StarLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
So.... I will use....
The Seat will start their meeting on time!
The Seat will start their meeting on time!
Mike J
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- UraniumLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
Not being a relativist pedant, I still choose to believe that there are correct and incorrect usages (just as there are 'right' and 'wrong' behaviors). "Their" is third person plural possessive and requires a plural verb form. Any other usage is incorrect. Of course, in today's education environment high test scores in order to preserve the teacher jobs (outside Wisconsin and California) are more important than actual learning occurring.StuartR wrote:It's not a matter of correct or incorrect. Language use changes with time, and this usage of "their" as a gender neutral pronoun is now very common in some places. Whether this will become an accepted usage everywhere, or will die out over time, none of us can know yet.DaveA wrote:Skitter and BigAl are on spot, and correct...
Here in TX, we would agree with BigAl about political correctness. We equate it to trying to pick up canine fecal matter from the clean end.
Bob's yer Uncle
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- 2StarLounger
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Re: To start...or For Starting
When the forum has finished dissecting chairs can they please start on manholes. :)
Regards
wasbit
wasbit
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Re: To start...or For Starting
That would have to be a 'guyhole'
guy1    
[gahy] Show IPA
noun, verb, guyed, guy·ing.
–noun
1.
Informal . a man or boy; fellow: He's a nice guy.
2.
Usually, guys. Informal . persons of either sex;
guy1    
[gahy] Show IPA
noun, verb, guyed, guy·ing.
–noun
1.
Informal . a man or boy; fellow: He's a nice guy.
2.
Usually, guys. Informal . persons of either sex;
Mike J