Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Orson and Malone

I suppose that since England and Waled voted differently to Scotland and Northern Ireland, the headline could be "All four countries should unite" or add ..."as one" for effect.

grunger

I think waitress, actress, bus conductress etc are fine, but I think some professions don't have a female version. I know you have been a stripper and cricketer but I think these words cover male and female.

Perhaps plasterer is also in this category.

Hello, Grunger, Jigjag, Orson... anybody and everybody.

I am quite glad that there's very little need for conductresses nowadays, what a cumbersome word. And though it may be passable, just, for buses, I certainly wouldn't want that term used if I was conducting at the Royal Albert Hall.

Grunger,
'Since' replacing the rightful 'as' is one of my pet hates - sorry!

malone

Thanks. Interesting point. "Since" in the sense of "because" is used in this part of Lancashire rather than "as". I have never thought it to be wrong. I will have to look it up.

A joke that works on the Lancs/Yorks border is

"What's ET short for"?

"He's got little legs...."

Malone

I have never known you to be wrong, but I think you might be regarding Grunger's use of "since". You say that "as" is right, but in Cheshire/North Wales, "since" is common. I think "since" can mean "from a certain time" or "for the reason that"

I dont know about other parts of the country.

Chris

Love it!

Grunger,

Yes, the same use - 'since' meaning 'because' - is also used a lot in Scotland. My teachers - in Scotland! - frowned on it, and that has stuck with me for decades. You'll be pleased to hear that Chambers is quite happy with your usage - 'since... seeing that, because', so I shouldn't have moaned!

ChrisE, I don't really get the ET joke - sorry!

Hi malone
People round here sometimes say "what is.....for" rather than "why". Most people would say "Why is ET short?"