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Tyke

Yes I agree about Rail and I think that the North-West motorways need a lot of improvement.

Lisa is my MP and very popular here. Very good on TV and I find myself agreeing with everything she says. I think that she or Starmer would be excellent leaders. They would appeal to the electorate, I'm sure. I agree with you that Keir would be better if an imminent election, but if she gets the job, Lisa would stand a chance of winning election in 4 years or so. Of course I am hoping that Brexit will go horribly wrong and we will get an early election - dream on!

I quite like Emily Thornberry but she keeps putting her foot in it. Rebecca LB does not appeal to me or anyone I know.

I hope this forum doesn't descend into politics. There are plenty of other websites...

Grunger

Thanks for your comments - I think Lisa gets my vote.

In Australia the media almost invariably use the word 'gumption' as a synonym for courage . .

Is this the case in the United(?) Kingdom?

Hannah

I think `gumption` in the UK is more to do with `determination` or the `will to succeed`... I don`t think the `Apathy Party` do `gumption`

My understanding is that 'gumption' = 'common sense'

That of course would not stop those you mention from not doing it

And, from this morning's TV . .

"He had a single tear running down both cheeks . .

hannah, tyke

I think of gumption = nous, used in the North of England, dont know about the South.

Hannah

Nice to see you posting again on this thread

A few random observations I made this morning.

I remember the shellac 78 records but I hadn't come across "to shellac somebody" until today. Apparently it's American slang meaning to defeat someone. Do we really need to import that usage?

Then on Radio 3 today I heard about the Moog synthesizer with Moog sounding like a cow. It's a common error but it should rhyme with vogue.

Finally Hilaire Belloc. I remember attending a school assembly about this woman. Only trouble is, as I'm sure you all know, she was a he. A venal sin, though, is to drop the H from his first name, but it is pronounced and he always did so himself. On Radio 3 it was dropped the first time and sounded the second, so all is forgiven.

Have a nice day, all of you, and don't get too wet!

Might I be allowed to offer my observation on the old chestnut that is the position of the apostrophe?
It seems to me that many of the errors arise from schoolchildren being told that there are 2 options: apostrophe S, and S apostrophe.
Surely there is only the former - ‘S to denote ownership. However, if the word (to which ownership is to be ascribed) already ends in an S, (as happens with feminine forms, most plurals, a few proper names etc) it looks odd with S’S, and is harder to pronounce, so the S (of ‘S) is dispensed with.
It really doesn’t make the notation S’. Eg the ladies’ bags was never “ ladie” with S’, but ladies with ‘s, and then with the second S removed to avoid S’S.