My Pedantic Moans
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BACK TO THINGS THAT NIGGLE ME.
Why do people say "Outside of", when simply "outside" is sufficient?
"The road is blocked outside of the Royal Albert Hall following a traffic accident." (Radio report)
While I have my GOM hat on, why - "He was a friend of Bill's".
Bill's what? Bill's dog, Bill's pussy?
Why not "He was a friend of Bill" or "He was one of Bill's friends".
Yes, I AM pedantic - and I know I can't stop the rot.
Eye have a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write.
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
and eye can put the error rite.
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
(Sauce unknown)
I thought I had referred to this before, but I can't now find any reference in my blogs.
Why do estate agents use "comprising of" in their advertisements?
Here is a prime example:
Beechcroft Avenue, North Harrow, Middlesex
A ground floor maisonette comprising of lounge, fitted kitchen, one double bedroom with fitted wardrobes, bathroom with shower and separate w/c, gas central heating, double glazing and garden to rear. The property is offered unfurnished and 1st January Ref: FAP/92
St Kildas Road, Harrow, Middlesex
A first floor flat comprising of lounge, fitted kitchen, one double bedroom, bathroom with combined w/c. The property is offered furnished and available 27th November Ref: FAP/31
St Kildas Road, Pinner, Middlesex
A newly refurbished ground floor flat comprising of lounge, modern fitted kitchen & utility room, two double bedrooms, new bathroom with separate w/c, gas central heating, double glazing and laminate flooring throughout. The property is offered furnished or unfurnished and available now
Canterbury Road, North Harrow, Middlesex
A first floor flat comprising of lounge, fitted kitchen, two bedrooms, modern bathroom with power shower and combined w/c, gas central heating, double glazing, garden to rear and off street parking to front. The property is offered furnished or unfurnished and available now Ref: FAP/191
There were more than 20 such descriptions on their web-site.
I think they are getting confused with "consisting of".
"Comprising" stands alone and is never followed by "of".
Or am I wrong?
Here are a couple of extracts from a Manchester University article:
"Despite its size The University of Manchester is divided into only four faculties, each sub-divided into schools:
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences consisting of the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science;
Chemistry; Computer Science; Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science; Physics and Astronomy; Electrical & Electronic Engineering; Materials; Mathematics; and Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering .
Faculty of Humanities includes the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures (a rather catchall title incorporating Archaeology; Art History; Classics and Ancient History; Drama; English and American Studies; History; Music; and Religions and Theology). The other Schools are Education; Environment and Development; Informatics (formed from the UMIST Department of Computation); Languages, Linguistics and Cultures; Law; Business; and Social Sciences.
Faculty of Life Sciences unusually consisting of a single school.
Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences consisting of the Schools of Dentistry; Medicine; Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; and Psychological Sciences."
"Residential Campuses:
The Fallowfield Campus, situated 2 miles south of the main university campus, is the largest of the university's residential campuses. The Owens Park tower lies at the centre of it, with Oak House comprising of blocks called Holly, Sycamore, Beech, and Maple) being the other main Hall of Residence."
WHAT DO YOU THINK ?
