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jigjag and co.

Those names in your class (Goodness, Mercy etc.) sound like gipsy/traveller ones. I taught a Lightning from that community.

A test I have failed: our head thought it wise for staff to learn first aid. After a course on one evening per week for several weeks I failed the practical - apparently I would have killed someone with my resuscitation method.

I did help my wife with the 1991 census in quite a rough area and it was very difficult collecting the last few forms from the secretive and the recalcitrant. We certainly had to leave some households to be persuaded by a higher authority.

'While': I know someone who was brought up in Lincolnshire. He uses 'I'll be there while nine o'clock' meaning 'by' or 'at'. I think he can also use it to mean 'until'.

'Whilst' sounds antiquated to me, but I prefer it to the hideous 'unbeknownst'.

While I'm here: someone on another site was pulled up (I thought correctly) for writing 'rising to a crescendo...'. However, another pointed out that dictionaries have crescendo meaning 'high point' as well as 'increasing in loudness', so I've always been mistaken.

Rather arrogantly I disagree with the dictionaries, given the Latin root of the word.

Paulhabershon, I try to avoid using certain words, even if I think I may be using them quite correctly, as I know they will arouse a sense of disquiet in others. 'Crescendo' is one and 'meteoric' is another.

I liked the 'while nine o'clock', the 'while' sounds very versatile.

Paul

The families were immigrants from West Africa. It was a Catholic school in Liverpool. Other unusual names were Demi-Lee, Demi-Lea, Demi-Leigh, Aimee and Amiee. I have no idea of the origin of these.

A friend from Yorkshire also uses "while" as in "I cant get there while (until) Tuesday. He told me of a tragedy at a level crossing where the sign said something like "Cross while green light shows" and a pedestrian mis-interpreted it.

I think it was "Don't cross while lights are flashing", jigjag.

jigjag

I was wondering if Goodness and Mercy followed you all the days of your life.

Luckily I wasn't much struck by Lightning.

Chrise

Thanks, I suppose "whilst" would have avoided the problem

Paul

They were all pleasant children but I only taught them for a year rather than a lifetime. I suppose Lightning had an older brother - Thunder?

malone

I think pedant is a great occupation (for someone else). It's so long ago I can't remember, but on-lne I think you get a drop-down list. Other ? (and what a strange occupation "other" would be)

Rosalind, I believe you are right about the "l" vs. "ll" business. I don't think I'd like to meet a beef twister though.

ChrisE, I am with you on the while only refers to time argument. The other one that almost everyone gets wrong is "since." That also should be used only in the context of time, instead of as a synonym for "because."

Malone, are you ignoring the word, or the device as well?

I cannot agree with you, mathp, on that use of since. The OED says it can mean "because" and it has been regularly used so since at least 1540. Such as this from 1833: You shall have them cheap, since there is but a poor demand for them to-day.