Conversation started Aug 4, 2015 at 4:01.
Catija
Catija
Aug 4, 2015 04:01
I've always thought people who were picky about "was" vs "were" were a bit pedantic.
Anonymous
Well, the was form has been in competition with the were form for hundreds of years.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
nods -- but the errors could be typos or brainos.
Anonymous
There are a few key points:
Anonymous
1. The were form is preferred in formal English.
Anonymous
2. The were form appears especially often in certain collocations: "If I were" is very common.
Anonymous
Aug 4, 2015 04:02
3. The were form is strictly required in certain fossilized constructions: "Were I to agree with you, . . . " but never "Was I to agree with you, . . . "
Anonymous
But was is commonly used by educated speakers and has been for hundreds of years
Anonymous
@DamkerngT. Could be. But it doesn't read like native English.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
nods
Anonymous
> I'm wondering [the best way to punctuate and/or format this sentence]
Anonymous
This would usually have a subordinate interrogative clause as a complement, for example:
Anonymous
Aug 4, 2015 04:06
> I'm wondering [what the best way is to punctuate and/or format this sentence]
 
Conversation ended Aug 4, 2015 at 4:06.