on 01 Nov 2003: Even if "machine gun" is actually two words (and I'm not sure it always is), Only in writing sometimes, but never in speech if a fluent speaker says it. the term is an adjective as used in the article, and should be

That's the one I'd write. Me, too. It's the *only* correct and unambiguous way to write it. I'm with you, sort of. Even if "machine gun" is actually two words (and I'm not sure it always is), the term is an adjective

On 1 Nov 2003 04:50:38 GMT CyberCypher } the inimitable "Aaron J. Dinkin" (Email Removed) wrote } in on 01 Nov 2003: } }> On 1 Nov 2003 00:11:38 GMT, CyberCypher ... }>> I don't understand how you can say that what I have

on 01 Nov 2003: on 01 Nov 2003: If I wanted to convey the rarity of the situation, I would use "few" or "rare". I think "rare" is also rare in informal discourse, but never mind that. Then I rarely engage in informal

on 01 Nov 2003: The first example you give does not convey the information that such a condition is unusual. The second does. If I wanted to convey the rarity of the situation, I would use "few" or "rare". I think

I saw this link in another newsgroup: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3146042998 It's a beautiful example of being able to clearly communicate without messing ... of the other niceties held so dear by this group. You

The way I understand "one of the only countries", through my native-speaker intuition, is that it's identical to "one of ... is a non-restrictive adjective, adding the information that the speaker considers the number five to be

on 31 Oct 2003: It is no more verbose than "one of the few", ... if that's what it is, except in highly formal English.) "one of the only" gives you no definite numerical information. "one of the few" tells you

on 31 Oct 2003: There are those who agree with ... language is used and must be accepted as an idiom". What about those who regard it as not only perfectly standard but also not "an idiom", since calling something an ... would be

on 31 Oct 2003: on 31 Oct 2003: The similarity is that they have ... Standard English" by some of the mavens in this NG. Well, there are two senses of "idiomatic". One is 'constituting an idiom' (i.e., a construction whose