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24 replies

BreconBeBuggered · 22/04/2013 19:36

Want to post in AIBU really, but it's a bit specialist and probably belongs over here. Am I getting unnecessarily irritated by the use of 'fora' as a plural for 'forums'? Sure, forum is a Latin word, but I don't believe it was used in the sense of an internet discussion board back in Julius Caesar's day. It has been adopted as a modern English word and should therefore have a modern regular English plural for the sake of clarity.

Tell me I'm not wrong.

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Cooroo · 24/04/2013 13:48

Having just jumped on someone else for using 'criteria' as a singular, I actually agree with you!

Am perfectly happy with forums. And octopuses. After all, we say 'cinemas' not 'kinemata' (or whatever)! OTOH I have a day full of crises not crisises. And what about more modern borrowings such as 'panini'?

It's all about usage really, rules are more descriptive than prescriptive.

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BreconBeBuggered · 24/04/2013 15:38

A criteria, eek. Like nails scraping slowly down a blackboard, that is. Also 'a strange phenomena' . Should be banned on all forums.

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BreconBeBuggered · 24/04/2013 15:40

^^as should random positioning of full stops. Especially in this corner of Mumsnet. I believe they do that on purpose to make you look like a twat when you're pontificating.

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Cooroo · 24/04/2013 15:40

Aha Brecon! I've been gently ridiculed for even using the word 'criterion' both on MN and here in the office. Thank you for making me feel less odd.

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Cooroo · 24/04/2013 15:41

Perhaps we should take a stand for 'criterions'.

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FactOfTheMatter · 24/04/2013 15:44

I like Anglicised plurals too. 'Octopodes' etc is interesting from an etymological point of view but I'm never going to actually say that. It reduces the chances of getting something 'wrong' too. Good point about 'crisises' though! I can't bring myself to be annoyed by 'panini/paninis' in English, either.

what about "the media is" Grin

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BreconBeBuggered · 24/04/2013 16:16

Oh, I've just seen that criteria thread. In a bit of pain now. I see people getting it wrong a lot, but not being all righteous about it. I daresay we'll come to the point where the plural becomes the accepted singular, but we're not there yet.

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somebloke123 · 25/04/2013 17:25

Either forums or fora seems OK to me.

I guess if you use the Latin form of a plural you do however have to take care that it is actually correct as if not you're going to look a bit of a pillock.

For example, although many singulars ending in "us" take a plural form ending in "i", some (4th declension) don't. For example I think "virus" and "prospectus" also take "us" in the Latin plural and that would sound odd in English.

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HopeMum · 09/03/2018 13:26

Octopus Energy supplier £50 discount for you
share.octopus.energy/dawn-sky-707

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TitcHt48 · 14/04/2018 14:18

Any one have any ideas on o.t.c. Products for flight fright

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Mimiev · 30/06/2018 17:29

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Monckton54 · 30/07/2018 18:28

Has anyone used the car cleaning kit for the shark cordless vacuum.
Is it strong enough suction.

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Gluttie20 · 03/08/2018 16:24

Hi mums out there! My 2 and 4 year old are struggling in this UK summer heat. Any recommendations on what could help keep them cool? Thanks

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Nisrine · 08/11/2018 20:14

Hello I am a mum of 3 kids my elder son 8years old and I have a twins 7months my question is that I have celiac disease I discovered it after 2 years of giving birth to my elder son and he didn’t have the disease but I’m worried now if I should introduce the gluten to my twins or wait till 1 year each doctor gave me different opinion one with introducing now and other told me to wait I’m breastfeeding with giving formula as a compliment I need ur advice

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wellplayedchild · 27/01/2019 17:59

yes, I think it's all about shame. Shame sparks motivation. But it's the wrong kind of motivation. Teachers should know better. Not all kids learn by memorizing the times table. You are right to rage about it a bit. I would too. The only thing to do is to practice with him and build his confidence and down play the importance of that leaderboard. Tell him how you've overcame something that was difficult for you when you were in school.

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Tricia271 · 29/05/2019 15:20

SOCIAL HOUSING CRISIS: BROKEN SOCIAL HOUSING BIDDING SYSTEM
I am writing to ask all mums, friends and family to please support me and sign my petition on change.org
I am petitioning the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP and other decision makers, for myself and my 2 son's (10yrs & 16yrs) with autism and disabilities to be rehoused under the social housing system after our 10 year battle to move.
We are London Lambeth council residents, living in appalling conditions in a small flat that has been deemed unfit for purpose by law.
We are currently falling victim to the social housing crisis and the broken social housing bidding system.
I hope to generate enough signatures to make the decision makers/Parliament look into my case and the broken social housing bidding system.
Please read our story and sign the petition by clicking the link below:

chng.it/c5WF8XYh

Please can you share the petition with as many people as you can.
THANKS in advance
Kind Regards

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BBee1980 · 04/10/2019 18:46

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Carolejane · 16/01/2020 17:32

Anyone brought the concertina doors recently ?

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AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 11/02/2020 21:34

Narcissuses and narcissi sound equally silly, and the spell-checker is happy with either. Or with both, in the sentence above.

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DaisyBurgun · 22/02/2020 12:00

If anyone was born in the range of 1926-1945 please, please would you participate in my survey for my dissertation? (I know it's a bit of an ask!)
Link;

www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/M79KKHR

Completely confidential and also should only take 5 minutes to complete.

Thank you so much in advance! Please give me a shout if you need anything.

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Nish19 · 23/02/2020 11:51

Hi! How are you all? I’m a first time mum and my daughter is now 8months old and was wondering if any of your formula fed babies take multivitamins she drinks about 500ml a day

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Mandy713 · 16/03/2020 22:53

Hello, I'm 6 weeks pregnant today and since this morning, I've been having very light discharge when I wipe. I'm not having any cramping, but just wondering of this is a start to something negative being that my pregnancy symptoms started to fade 3 days ago.

Has anyone experienced the same symptoms, yet still went on to have a successful pregnancy?

Any feedback would be appreciated

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Nish19 · 17/03/2020 03:10

Hey I think that’s very normal, my daughter is 8months now but the start of my pregnancy wasn’t good! So I found out a month later that I was pregnant and few weeks after that one morning I started bleeding my pads were getting soaked through but I didn’t have any pain or any other symptoms so from that I obv had assumed I had lost the baby 2 weeks later I went in for a scan dreading I had lost my baby but we seen a heart beat and all was well! So happy endings do happen! And its okay to have discharge thanks to all the estrogen your bodies making and all the blood flow relax and enjoy your pregnancy.. if your still worried you should call your early pregnancy unit it’s prob in your book or you can get your dr to refer you good luck :)

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Mandy713 · 17/03/2020 04:39

Thank you so much for your feedback Smile That gives me some relief and hope. My first scan is not for another long 3 weeks. I hope all will be well.

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