Monseul  +  288473 Thu, 02 Nov 06 02:45 AM So, when we can't think of a word, we use the following, whachamacallit          used for things  gizmo / doohickey       used for gadgets  What do we use for people's names?  Is there a word like the ones above? Monseul Joined on Thu, Oct 20 2005 Junior Member 53

	Grammar Geek  +  288485 Thu, 02 Nov 06 03:02 AM What's-his-name (sounds like whazziz name) or What's her name (sounds like whutzer name) 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!

	Yankee  +  288537 Thu, 02 Nov 06 08:50 AM . I've also heard "whosywhatsit" (sp?) used when you can't think of a person's name. (Spelling:  "whosiwhatsit"?  I'm not sure of the spelling since it would generally only be spoken rather than written.) 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 Spelling

	Grammar Geek  +  288641 Thu, 02 Nov 06 02:39 PM Really, Yankee? I used it in our corporate annual report. We listed all the members of our Board of Directors, except the one whose name we couldn't remember, so we labeled her picture "Whosiwhatzits." I'm 99% that's how it's spelled. Although -now that I think of it, there is regional variation. Grammar Geek

	Yankee  +  288726 Thu, 02 Nov 06 06:51 PM You labeled a Board member's picture that way in an annual report?!      My mother was responsible for teaching me "Whosiwhatzit".  It was her favorite when someone's name escaped her.  (Philadelphia area.) Yankee

	Grammar Geek  +  288732 Thu, 02 Nov 06 07:24 PM No, I was kidding, of course. Where near Philly? I live in Chester County. Grammar Geek

	Yankee  +  288748 Thu, 02 Nov 06 08:57 PM Hi Barbara  Wow!  Chester County!  Actually, my Mom grew up across the river in Mercer County, NJ and I did most of my growing up in Gloucester County.  One of my brothers lives in Bucks County, but the rest of the family is in Connecticut now.  Two of the most of the most frightful drawbacks of CT are that you can't buy scrapple and there are no decent cheese steaks.  Amy Yankee