Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Game over. I lose.

Props to everyone who sent their ideas about "take" and "bring." It's confession time for me: Paul is actually the one who distinguishes between them. I - like the typical Midwestern I am - pretty much use them interchangeably, which drives my husband nuts. But I stand sheepishly corrected.

For the record, here's the answer, kudos of copy-editor extraordinaire Craig Gaines, who provided the most succinct of the correct answers: Bryan Garner's Dictionary of Modern American Usage (which you should really own): "Bring suggests motion toward the writer or reader; it's analogous to come. Take suggests motion in the opposite direction; it's analogous to go." Therefore, "Bring it here," and, "Take it there." "He brought me a pancake," and, "I took him a pancake."

***

Atlanta fact of the day: There is no cold tap water here. The ground is warm, therefore the water coming straight from the pipes is warm. It's taken me about three weeks to figure this out. It makes ice absolutely essential. It's the little things...

5 comments:

Pauly said...

Never underestimate the power of Britain. We are slowly infiltrating the USA, marrying American women and waiting for the chance to strike. Oh yes, America will be ours once more.

A2Girl said...

seriously Paul - do you guys really want it?

The Hall said...

I feel like such a pawn.

Pat said...

Well, Paul, Congrats you were correct! Now here is a challenge for you: correct my English! That should take you a while!!

The Narrator said...

You were right on that, Paul. But remember: When you're on our turf, you WILL place your commas and periods inside your quotation marks.