Today Chandler’s Ford Today is going to honour one of our regular commenters with The Official Pedant Award.
The winner is Ruby.
Ruby has made 76 comments on Chandler’s Ford Today so far.
In the current Private Eye Issue (No. 1384, 23 January to 5 February 2015), Ruby (or better known as Ruby Barefoot) has made it to Pedantry Corner.
Ruby asked in his recent blog post The theory of anything on his blog: The same old sun will shine in the morning: “Does this mean I’m now officially a pedant?”
Of course you are, Ruby! Congratulations!
Let’s look at some of Ruby’s pedantic moments on Chandler’s Ford Today:
On Hiltonbury: “When did the spelling change from Hiltonbury to Hiltingbury? I assume they are alternative spellings of the same area.”
(Post by Andy Vining: The Vining Family And Hiltonbury Farmhouse)
On Christmas song appreciation: “The pedant in me doesn’t like the first verse of “in the bleak midwinter”. It probably wasn’t midwinter , and even if it were – do they really get snow and hard frosts in the Holy Land? However, the remaining verses – especially the last – do make up for this.
Best Christmas Carol film – surely the one with Patrick Stewart playing the role of Scrooge. There was also an adaption by Quantum Leap back in the 1990s which I enjoy – especially the twist at the end (no plot spoiler, but you’ll know it when you see it).
I haven’t made a Christmas cake for years. When it got to the stage that I was still eating it at Easter I thought that maybe the time had come to let that tradition go.”
(Post by Allison Symes: What Christmas Means To Me)
On the use of a hashtag: “In the US it is used as shorthand for “number” (where we would use “no.”). If you’ve ever wondered why the Americans call it a pound sign when we know a pound sign is £, it’s a symbol for a pound weight, not a pound sterling. I forget the origin, but it goes back a long way.
And “no.” short for number is actually an abbreviation for “numero” which is French for number.
And the name hash is a corruption of “hatch” – as in cross-hatch. It differs from the musical sharp symbol, as the two cross lines are horizontal in a hash but rise slightly in a sharp (otherwise they would be hidden by the lines on the music staff).”
(Post by SO53 News: Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury PACT Meeting)
On money: “The ‘old money’ denominations originated in the roman empire, were librae, solidi and denarii – which in English became pounds, shillings and pence, though the abbreviation LSD remained. The £ pound sign comes from a stylised L. The name of the Turkish and (pre-euro) Italien Lira also comes from the same source.
Oh, and the # sign is also sometimes known as a ‘pound sign’ – especially in America. But this is pounds weight, not pounds currency.”
(Post by Chippy Minton: How Often Have You Used A £50 Note?)
On cycling: “Coming from Oxfordshire, I know “tchure” – it’s a word my father often uses. I even immediately recognised the photo on the page you linked it to – been past it several times.”
(Post by Chippy Minton: Cycling: Eastleigh – Chandler’s Ford)
On verb vs noun: “In this context it should definitely be “practising”.
The word being used is unequivocally a verb (the full sentence would be “one of the early doctors who was practising). A noun would be something like “the practicing of medicate has been occurring in Chandler’s Ford since…” (a very clunky sentence I know, but it illustrates my point). But even then I’m not sure, as “practicing” is a gerund not a noun so maybe it should follow the verb spelling?”
(Post by Janet: Chandler’s Ford Or Chandlers Ford? You Choose.)
On St John Ambulance: “So pleased you got the name right – “St John Ambulance” not “St John’s Ambulance”. You’d be surprised how many people get it wrong!!”
(Post by Janet: Eastleigh Town Centre: St John Ambulance)
On mathematics: “There were 20 shillings in a pound, and 12 pence in a shilling. So 10 shillings and sixpence = 10.5/20. of a pound = 52.5 pence.
OR, a shilling is the equivalent of 5 (new) pence, sixpence is the equivalent to 2.5. (new) pence*. 10 shillings + 6 pence = 50 pence + 2.5 pence.
Your mathematician owes me a beer 🙂*for quite a while after decimalisation, the old “sixpence” was still in use, with a value of 2.5 pence. And the conversation “have you got 2 and a half pence” “yes, I’ve got a sixpence” caused absolutely no confusion whatsoever (seriously – it really didn’t).”
(Post by Janet: Fascinating Books About Chandler’s Ford)
If you have not had enough of Ruby’s wisdom, here is a list of 10 more Ruby’s comments on Chandler’s Ford Today. Enjoy!
- On taming a cat
- On 20 mph road debate
- On Hiltingbury Road – Hursley Road junction
- On fluoride: having a good set of teeth
- On verdict on Glover’s Butchers
- On democracy: Curry or Pizza?
- On the centre of Chandler’s Ford
- On WiFi and Data Protection
- On “humans don’t own cats; cats own humans”
- On solving the problem such as: “why are you wearing socks that say ‘Monday’ when it is Tuesday?”
An ambition fulfilled!
I’d have probably made ‘Pedantry Corner’ sooner, but I’m usually so behind in my reading, I’ve missed the deadline by the time I’ve noticed anything to comment on.
Incidentally, the column is named “Pedantry Corner” because the pedants couldn’t agree between “Pedant’s” and “Pedants”
Ruby,
Look at your contributions – you deserve the medal.
Your comments sometimes give me headache, as they are a bit too technical for me! You have entertained us and set good examples of showing what good comments are like – relevant, informative, and helping us moving on with the conversation (or even taking us on to a new level!)
Keep coming back! Thank you!