Looks like I may have egg on my face

[MattF]

And the all-time most irritating language habit of all, the use of rising intonation at the end of a sentence, so everything sounds like a question !! I really feel like shooting people that do it !!

I can definitely sympathise with you on that one.

Regarding txt speak, another detester of it here too. Idleness, IMHO, is the only reason anyone has for using it, regardless of keyboard/input type. I always work on the basis that if someone can't be bothered to type, or speak, in a manner which creates a sentence of clear and understandable nature without interpretation, then they stand a good chance of being ignored, (barring situations where there is valid reason for a possible lack of spelling or verbal correctness, that is). I personally see no reason why people should expect that they can be slovenly in their use of language, (for their own benefit of saving time and effort), yet expect the recipient to waste time deciphering it.

None of us are perfect, but that's no reason for not putting in the effort and attempting to be so.

 

[MattF]

But more than one is plural so the added s changes the unit to plural.

Nah. Ampere and Ampere's is singular and plural. In the latter, you're not supplying a specific amount, hence the plural applies. If you supply an amount, however, you revert back to singular: Amps = 10Amp. With Amp's, you're saying there's more than one without being specific. The latter, (Amp), you're specifying how many singular units there are, so obviously 10Amp's would imply that there are 10 of more than one.

 

[rtbcomp]

There's no apostrophe in the plural of ampere, it should be amperes. Sorry but it's 1 amp and 10 amps. You should say "1 amp's not enough current" or "1 amp is not enough current" or "10 amps is not enough current".

I think a lot of it is down to regional variation vs. correct English, or I should say "I think much of it is..............."

 

[gordon stephenson]

Another that really annoys me is people saying "off of", as in "I have taken the head off of this engine", instead of simply "I have taken the head off this engine".
And thats another pet peeve!! when people say "this man" etc when telling a tale instead of a man,If the person or thing being referred to is not actually there.

 

[MattF]

There's no apostrophe in the plural of ampere, it should be amperes.

My mistake there. Force of habit creeping in, with it also being the surname of the originator.

Sorry but it's 1 amp and 10 amps. You should say "1 amp's not enough current" or "1 amp is not enough current" or "10 amps is not enough current".

I'll still beg to differ on that point. However, seeing as most of us could likely be made to feel like bumbling charlatans in our use of the language by our old English teachers, we'll likely not get a specific answer on that one unless a true pedant steps in.

I think a lot of it is down to regional variation vs. correct English, or I should say "I think much of it is..............."

That is good point. We can but try our best, but with the amount of incorrectness we are assaulted with daily in the form of local dialect, simple bad usage and also the likes of Seppo usage creeping in, it's highly unlikely that any of us are perfect, or likely even close, these days.

Another that really annoys me is people saying "off of", as in "I have taken the head off of this engine", instead of simply "I have taken the head off this engine".

"Outside of" is another one.


p.s: Apologies for the smiley overload.

 

[tigler]

There's no apostrophe in the plural of ampere, it should be amperes. Sorry but it's 1 amp and 10 amps. You should say "1 amp's not enough current" or "1 amp is not enough current" or "10 amps is not enough current".

Agreed, IMHO this is correct. The use of an apostrophe is often incorrect !

 

[tigler]

Just to clarify :-
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ampere

 

[rtbcomp]

But you say "5 amp fuse" not "5 amps fuse"

That Wikitionary entry mentions "amperemeter" (undefined) it should be "ammeter" and definitely NOT "ampmeter"

 

[MattF]

Just to clarify :-
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ampere

Oh matey. Linking to, or quoting from, any of the wikis when it comes to matters of fact and/or correctness is like bringing a floozy into a girls prep school to teach them virtuous behaviour.

 

[rtbcomp]

Not as bad as bringing one into a boy's prep. school

 

[tigler]

But you say "5 amp fuse" not "5 amps fuse"

That Wikitionary entry mentions "amperemeter" (undefined) it should be "ammeter" and definitely NOT "ampmeter"

Well now we are just getting into the depths of complexity of the English language !
Words do evolve from slang and short form to become accepted as a formal part of the language over time. Words are added annually to the English dictionary.
The use of the s to denote the plural of a noun changes with context and it is a complex subject, as I've just determined when I did some quick research !
So there will be a rule to cover when amp is amps or amp even when plural !

 

[keith19]

Like a 13 amp circuit.
Such a circuit is rated at 13 amps.

 

[ChrisJohnsSculpture]

But you say "5 amp fuse" not "5 amps fuse"

That Wikitionary entry mentions "amperemeter" (undefined) it should be "ammeter" and definitely NOT "ampmeter"

In this context '5 amp' is used as an adjective which doesn't take the case of the noun it is describing in English.

SO saying a 5 amp fuse is, grammatically, the same construction as saying a blue fuse.

Similarly you would say a 13 millimetre socket not a 13 millimetres socket, or a 10 mile round trip.

Personally I don't have a problem with idiosyncratic uses of English as long as the meaning is clear in the context. What is annoying is sloppy use of language in a way which dilutes it's meaning. Often 'management speak' is the worst offender in this respect.

 

[tigler]

There you go ! It's scary how much you forget from school !! Although I always did quite well in English I often found myself nodding off when the teacher was attempting to explain such stuff !

 

[rtbcomp]

In this context '5 amp' is used as an adjective which doesn't take the case of the noun it is describing in English.

SO saying a 5 amp fuse is, grammatically, the same construction as saying a blue fuse.

Of course it is, I was trying to remember why.

Surely it should be a "blown" fuse

 

[Robotstar5]

Often 'management speak' is the worst offender in this respect.

Well I think we need to "car park" this subject now

 

[pedrobedro]

I hate the word amperage, should be current in my dictionary

Amperage is current(ly) in my dictionary

 

[ChrisJohnsSculpture]

Well I think we need to "car park" this subject now

You're right but we should do it dynamically in a synergistic, outcome-driven environment, remembering to maintain a forward-looking end-line-user focus.

 

[Angusdog]

Regarding txt speak, another detester of it here too. Idleness, IMHO, is the only reason anyone has for using it, regardless of keyboard/input type. <snip>None of us are perfect, but that's no reason for not putting in the effort and attempting to be so.

 

[Drains]

SO saying a 5 amp fuse is, grammatically, the same construction as saying a blue fuse.

Surely it should be a "blown" fuse

Well if it were blown then it would be a fuse with the blues, of course!