Pigfoot  +  158056 Sun, 13 Nov 05 09:51 AM I heard someone say that in Canada people extend the use of in-law to the uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and grandparents of one's spouse.  Is that so?  If so, is it true elsewhere, too? Further, can we say that there is more than one English? Can we say, for example, that there is a Canadian English and an American English?  What is the correct term for distinguishing the Englishes spoken in different countries?  Languages? Dialects? Variations?  Thanks! Pigfoot Joined on Fri, Nov 4 2005 New Member 07 Dialects, American English

	Philip  +  158166 Sun, 13 Nov 05 05:05 PM  Pigfoot wrote: I heard someone say that in Canada people extend the use of in-law to the uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and grandparents of one's spouse.  Is that so?  If so, is it true elsewhere, too? Further, can we say that there is more than one English? Can we say, for example, that there is a Canadian English and an American English?  What is the correct term for distinguishing the Englishes spoken in different countries?  Languages? Dialects? Variations?  Thanks! We often refer to 'AmericanCanadian/British English'. but I prefer to say "Englsih as spoken in America/Canada/Great Britain".  I am certain that most Americans would say "my husband's uncle". Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,738 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Dialects, American English, British English

	Grammar Geek  +  561547 Tue, 02 Sep 08 02:56 PM In American English, your aunt's husband is your uncle. We use the same word for your mother's sister's husband as you do for your mother's brother. (Likewise, your father's sister's husband and your father's brother -- all uncles.) If you said "uncle-in-law" I may think you meant your spouse's uncle, but as Philip said, I'd expet to hear "My husband's uncle." Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! American English

	MrPedantic  +  562179 Wed, 03 Sep 08 10:36 PM In British English, I would only expect to hear e.g. "my wife's uncle" too; though no doubt "uncle-in-law" would be comprehensible. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris... British English

	Clive  +  562228 Thu, 04 Sep 08 02:01 AM Hi, I live in Canada. I only hear 'mother-in-law', 'father-in-law', 'sister-in-law', 'brother -in-law', 'son-in-law', 'daughter -in-law'. However, I also hear the term 'my in-laws' by itself, meaning all of my husband or wife's family, eg My in-laws are coming to our home for Christmas. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,668 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Grammar Geek  +  870206 Fri, 21 Aug 09 04:11 AM Anonymous “(bad US spelling and ruined punctuation rules) ” So it seems you are using flattery as your technique for asking people to help you? Interesting. Look up mothers-in-law versus mother-in-laws. Apply the same rule uncles. And speaking of ruined punctuation, look up "greengrocer's apostrophe" to see how "uncle-in-law's" would be judged. I suppose while you're at it, you can look up what a dialect is as well. Grammar Geek Dialects, Spelling, Punctuation, Writing, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Friendships, Speaking, Chat, Languages

	Yankee  +  878450 Sat, 29 Aug 09 03:21 AM Anonymous “My question (and the reason I found this post) is that I'm trying to find out if the correct plural is "uncle-in-law's" or "uncles-in-law", or if both are equally valid.” Hmm. There are three possible things that "uncle-in-law's" could be, but it is very definitely not plural: 1. "uncle-in-law's" = the singular possessive form of "uncle-in-law" 2. "uncle-in-law's" = the contracted form of "uncle-in-law is" (singular) 3. "uncle-in-law's" = the contracted form of "uncle-in-law has" (singular) Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,506 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Plurals, Possessives, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Languages