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Pedants' corner

Is this wrong?

(37 Posts)
NemosMum Wed 14-Sept-16 10:08:42

'Hay' is a mass noun, surely, like 'milk' and 'mud'. Many of the lyrics of carols sound slightly ridiculous if you think about them.

MaizieD Wed 14-Sept-16 09:54:16

Hay is a sort of plural noun, surely? You certainly don't get one hay.

I do agree that 'among' sounds odd and that 'amidst' would be better.

Claudiaclaws Tue 13-Sept-16 21:37:19

I think amongst sounds better than among. Amidst sounds nice as well.

Ana Tue 13-Sept-16 21:07:00

I agree, MontanaGal. All the other suggestions make it seem (to me) as though Jesus was somehow mixed up with the hay!

MontanaGal Tue 13-Sept-16 20:51:06

I think "upon" the hay sounds better.

Bellanonna Tue 13-Sept-16 20:07:59

Still think among needs plural noun

Lillie Tue 13-Sept-16 15:30:29

It couldn't be "on" *trisher" because that would only be one syllable and wouldn't fit the music? Not that I have a clue about phrasing.

DaphneBroon Tue 13-Sept-16 14:04:44

"See amid(st?) the winter's snow
Born for us on earth below
See the tender Lamb appears
Promised from the eternal years"

"among" wouldn't sound right though would it?

trisher Tue 13-Sept-16 11:01:43

But shouldn't a carol be 'literary'?
Actually I think the whole concept is wrong- he would be sleeping 'on' the hay surely- 'among' seems to imply he is surrounded by it. Anyway it isn't a nice word is it? Strangely enough "amongst" sounds slightly better and I agree 'amidst' has definitely a better sound.
But I suppose you'd better sing the words that were written!

absent Tue 13-Sept-16 00:27:13

Among or amid – surrounded by – are both correct. Amongst and amidst are both archaic and, some would argue, literary.

Bellanonna Mon 12-Sept-16 23:08:41

I think the noun needs to be plural. Sleeps among or amongst the sheep, cows, whatever.

Nelliemoser Mon 12-Sept-16 22:56:36

I have just been to choir and one carol we were practising had the line.

"lullaby sweet Jesus sleeps among ?? the hay.
Somehow among sounds wrong to me,but I can't see how?

I feel amidst would be better. I don't know why this annoys me so much.
Any thoughts?