Language Overflow

« first day (1629 days earlier) ← previous day next day → last day (1906 days later) »

AIQ

05:14

Wow so according to Edwin Ashworth this answer is unacceptable but it has 16 upvotes -

Possible Duplicate: Do I need to put “the” before “most” in this sentence? I've always thought you need the definite article 'the' before the superlative of an adjective, except when the comparison is made within the same subject: The swimming pool is deepest here. Some people say 2 i...

So is this correct or wrong - I mean the answer...

AIQ

05:34

Also, in the bounty question "Florida fared (the) worst ..." worst is an adverb that looks like an adjective

2 hours later…

CowperKettle

07:05

@ColleenVpartedways What is the meaning of "full groan"?

full-grown?

))

6 hours later…

ColleenV parted ways

12:48

@CowperKettle Yes! I think I could have done better, but I was at work and distracted

I’ve groan accustomed to bad puns though...

@AIQ I think Edwin is correct. I don’t have enough reputation on ELU to see how controversial it was. I could say “I caught the most tuna.” but I wouldn’t say “The most tuna are caught...”

1 hour later…

Anonymous

14:07

@ColleenVpartedways The answer AIQ is referring to is still visible, I think.

Anonymous

So I don't think you need enough reputation to see deleted answers to comment on it.

Anonymous

@AIQ It's a useful answer, but I think Edwin Ashworth is right that intensifier is misused. Most can be an intensifier, but in that example it isn't.

ColleenV parted ways

@snailcar I mean I can’t see the up and down vote totals, just the score.

Anonymous

Ooh.

Anonymous

+17 -1

ColleenV parted ways

14:09

Interesting, that seems more positive than I expected from ELU

I don’t know why using the article seems awkward to me - maybe it wouldn’t catch my eye if there hadn’t been a question asked about it.

Anonymous

Well, it was back in 2012. EL&U was a bit of a different place back then, I feel.

Anonymous

Still had a fair amount of downvotes, though.

Anonymous

Actually, I wonder what a query would look like for downvotes per post over time. Would it have decreased since then?

Anonymous

What did you think of EL&U back then?

ColleenV parted ways

I wasn’t around that far back

I almost exclusively participated on ELL, although I read a lot of ELU

Anonymous

14:13

@ColleenVpartedways A lot of the time, if something seems awkward, it's infelicitous (inappropriate in context). Since the example sentence is presented without context, to understand it you have to contextualize it, and your brain is probably going with a context where the doesn't really fit as the path of least resistance.

Anonymous

The question would have been better with context.

ColleenV parted ways

@snailcar Most questions would benefit from more context.

I think if it were “A lot of tuna is caught in the summer. However, the most tuna is caught in the spring.” it would be fine.

Or not. I think I still prefer it without the article

2 hours later…

New Meta Question

16:29

Q: Usage of plural nouns with and without 'the'

Can I use the plural nouns in the given sentences with and without the. What difference in meaning does the create in the sentences? And as an English speaker which one sounds best to your ears? John, I have been to many countries in my life. I can tell you one thing that (the) people in Americ...

discussion articles definite-articles

4 hours later…

AIQ

20:17

@snailcar and @ColleenVpartedways It seemed awkward to me too "The most tuna ..." that's why I pointed this out. It might mislead people - the upvotes.

AIQ

20:29

@snailcar This is a very strange use of punctuation to me. Can you kindly take a look

A: "As opposed to" and "contrary to" in the beginning of sentences

The problem lies partly with the construction of your sentences. As opposed to doesn't fit well in this context; a fourth state of matter is not opposed to what people may think. That's to say it is not the opposite. To be wrong about something is not necessarily opposed to what is correct. If I...