Discussion
It struck me as odd that Inland Revenue recently won a plain english award for one of their public leaflets.
Moreover, I just bought a powertool and with it came stunningly useful instructions. Not useful in the sense that they explain how to use the tool, but useful in the way that it is difficult to keep a straight face while reading them. I'm certain manufacturers put these things in for amusement.
Here's some examples:
- Take tool out of box (
good start)
- Do not let visitors contract tool extension
- Wear rubbery. Do not wear jellery.
- Use tool for purpose intended to be used
- Never carry tool by yank or cord
- It will do job better at rate for which tool was intended
- Don't carry plugged-in tool with finger
- Have your tool repaired by an expert
This is better than News of the World!
Moreover, I just bought a powertool and with it came stunningly useful instructions. Not useful in the sense that they explain how to use the tool, but useful in the way that it is difficult to keep a straight face while reading them. I'm certain manufacturers put these things in for amusement.
Here's some examples:
- Take tool out of box (
good start) - Do not let visitors contract tool extension
- Wear rubbery. Do not wear jellery.
- Use tool for purpose intended to be used
- Never carry tool by yank or cord
- It will do job better at rate for which tool was intended
- Don't carry plugged-in tool with finger
- Have your tool repaired by an expert
This is better than News of the World!
You should have bought a Black & Decker (even though they've just ditched loads of jobs cos putting the things together is cheaper in Warsaw or somewhere) – what Korean make have you got?
Edited to say that maybe the IR are getting their act together. I wish the bloody VAT people would. Their leaflets that come with my VAT Return every quarter – I can't believe anybody understands them
>> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 10th October 15:59
Edited to say that maybe the IR are getting their act together. I wish the bloody VAT people would. Their leaflets that come with my VAT Return every quarter – I can't believe anybody understands them
>> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 10th October 15:59
quote:
Inland Revenue recently won a plain english
English is the name of the language. As such I would infer it is a 'proper' noun and therefore deserving of a capital letter.
People in glass houses fishmonkey etc.
Who me? Edit my posts to correct my spelling / grammar? In a sneaky and underhand manner. No, never...
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 10th October 16:02
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 10th October 16:56
Does anyone remember the 'hairdryer' one, where it said "WARNING DO NOT USE IN SHOWER" on the side.
I had a Mountainbike for christmas when I was about 13, and the instructions said "Not intended for off-road use"
I have a couple of cans of Humbrol Cellulose Dope (not drugs) in the garage, It's used to tighten the tissue paper skin on model aeroplanes.
The first can is circa late 60's early 70's (from my dad's childhood)
The other can is from about 1993.
The older one says "Warning highly inflammable" on the side.
The newer one says "Warning highly flammable"...But how can that be?
>> Edited by nmlowe on Thursday 10th October 16:06
I had a Mountainbike for christmas when I was about 13, and the instructions said "Not intended for off-road use"
I have a couple of cans of Humbrol Cellulose Dope (not drugs) in the garage, It's used to tighten the tissue paper skin on model aeroplanes.
The first can is circa late 60's early 70's (from my dad's childhood)
The other can is from about 1993.
The older one says "Warning highly inflammable" on the side.
The newer one says "Warning highly flammable"...But how can that be?
>> Edited by nmlowe on Thursday 10th October 16:06
quote:
The older one says "Warning highly inflammable" on the side.
The newer one says "Warning highly flammable"...But how can that be?
From www.dictionary.com/
in·flam·ma·ble Pronunciation Key (n-flm-bl)
adj.
Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; flammable. See Usage Note at flammable.
Quickly or easily aroused to strong emotion; excitable.
flam·ma·ble Pronunciation Key (flm-bl)
adj.
Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; inflammable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[From Latin flammre, to set fire to, from flamma, flame. See bhel-1 in Indo-European Roots.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. However, the presence of the prefix in- has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible.” The prefix -in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix -in, which is related to the English -un and appears in such words as indecent and inglorious. Rather, this -in is an intensive prefix derived from the Latin preposition in. This prefix also appears in the word enflame. But many people are not aware of this derivation, and for clarity's sake it is advisable to use only flammable to give warnings.
Dan
quote:
quote:
Inland Revenue recently won a plain english
English is the name of the language. As such I would infer it is a 'proper' noun and therefore deserving of a capitol letter.
People in glass houses etc.
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 10th October 16:02
Well if you want to get really picky about grammar/word usage there's no verb in your second sentence ner ner nerrrrr!
Oh, and it's a B&Q router I bought, not some dodgy plastic thing from the pound shop.
>> Edited by angusfaldo on Thursday 10th October 16:11
quote:
I wish the bloody VAT people would. Their leaflets that come with my VAT Return every quarter – I can't believe anybody understands them
>> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 10th October 15:59
Years ago I used to work for C&E and in our office we had the only Welsh speaker in the Department. As certain forms were required to be printed in Welsh they took the cheap option and had our guy translate. He resigned just before one final request was received and the result was a print run of 20000 excise duty forms with, instead of "bonded excise duty return form number X", the header, literally translated:
"to swing to and fro like a fart from a curtain rail".
Well it made us laugh
quote:
quote:
Inland Revenue recently won a plain english
English is the name of the language. As such I would infer it is a 'proper' noun and therefore deserving of a capitol letter.
People in glass houses etc.
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 10th October 16:02
[pedant mode]
Erm, that would be capital then, not capitol, who I believe are a record label and would therefore warrant a capital letter themselves......
[/pedant mode]
This is from the english version of an Italian plastics machinery magazine.
"The integrated analysis on hygienicity, pratically, upkeep and logistics characteristics of high tenacity polyester silos, produced by *****, put in evidence how these can easily reach high level of the rate quality/price. Considering a complete ***** storage & handling plant, the purchase of high tenacity polyester silos assume a strategic valency. Low storage costs set free financials resources to be invested in the part of dosing and mixing to create 'the company formula' of the product, a downright expression of firm know-how."
That's absolutely clear, then.
"The integrated analysis on hygienicity, pratically, upkeep and logistics characteristics of high tenacity polyester silos, produced by *****, put in evidence how these can easily reach high level of the rate quality/price. Considering a complete ***** storage & handling plant, the purchase of high tenacity polyester silos assume a strategic valency. Low storage costs set free financials resources to be invested in the part of dosing and mixing to create 'the company formula' of the product, a downright expression of firm know-how."
That's absolutely clear, then.
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