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Pedants' corner

Are you wearing a trouser?

(35 Posts)
Annobel Sat 16-Jul-11 09:40:19

I have just received a clothing catalogue by email. Why on earth do they insist on referring to 'a trouser', 'a jean' and 'a short'? This rankles with me. How about you? angry

gettingonabit Mon 21-Sept-15 09:35:22

It's all a bit Gok Wan isn't it, the reference to "a trouser"?

And as this is Pedants'Corner may I be so bold as to point out that Cotton Traders' founder is Fran, not Frank Cotton? smile

Deedaa Mon 21-Sept-15 21:31:52

I don't mind the singular trouser so much, but I get very annoyed by trousering - as in "He trousered the change" And what about the runner who "medals" instead of winning?

gettingonabit Wed 23-Sept-15 11:32:17

"Medalling" gets me too, deedaa.

And making nouns out of adjectives eg "your best beautiful" and such like....arggh!

MargaretX Wed 23-Sept-15 14:50:17

Actually saying trouser instead of trousers shows that the manufacturer is foreign and employs staff who aren't clever enough to research what the English(UK) word is for the product they are trying to sell.

As to the other subject about skirts. I hate wearing tights so skirts are out in winter. In summer its bare legs and I like skirts,

Anne58 Wed 23-Sept-15 14:54:23

This reminds me of the old thing where a school child was asked if "trousers" were singular or plural. After some thought the reply was "singular at the top, and plural at the bottom" !

granjura Wed 23-Sept-15 18:55:33

Thought it was a poor direct translation from La Redoute or similar- as in French it is 'un pantalon' but strangely enough 'un jeans' (singular with an 's').

De Nîmes was of course invented as a practically impossible to tear or destroy, for dockers.

annodomini Thu 24-Sept-15 12:26:33

Coincidence - I've just been reading a catalogue and wondering if I needed 'a jean'. Then I opened my email and found Gransnet's reference to this thread which I (or someone with a similar name) started more than four years ago. The offender today is Cotton Traders but Bon Marché is just the same.

aprilgrace Thu 24-Sept-15 21:52:13

I once had a French knicker!

Jomarie Thu 24-Sept-15 22:07:08

Me too aprilgrace - happy days!!