Words have meanings

gracesmum

Or the other way round?

I think our brains are too fast for our fingers!

I know you know really, joan.

Oh grrrrrrrrr I know this, and I got it right first time, then senility set in!!

And since this is a pedants' thread, that should be they're always helping and doing!

Gracesmum asked:Are Santa's helpers subordinate clauses? grin.

No - they're auxiliary verbs, 'cos their always helping and doing!

Mind you, they could be in a subjunctive mood, 'cos they're often thought to be not quite real, which is sure to put them in a mood.

The word myself seems to have totally replaced me and I. It drives me nuts....it's everywhere. It used to be bad form to put yourself at the beginning of a sentence, e.g. "Myself and John went shopping" Having just watched an episode of The Apprentice I'm suffering from a bout of 'myself indigestion.'

Are Santa's helpers subordinate clauses? .

i don't like the phrase 'ahead of'. 'Ahead of the meeting on Friday'. no. do it before the meeting. arrive at 9.30, ahead of mr x, who is still puffing his way up the stairs.

Surely 'predate' depends on how you pronounce it? That, and the context, should make the meaning clear, although I know there should strictly be a hyphen. Infamous is bandied about a lot, I know, but I think it's usually used appropriately - the trouble is that the younger generation don't get the distinction because they haven't had the English language education that our generatiion did.