Question Re: "Into" versus "Onto"

[_Lynn_]

ML, don't take the p---. I's trying to find my place with you super-cerebrals.

I just think writing goes a tad beyond the CMS.

 

[sr71plt]

Thanks,

Come on, face the challenge of 'lying in/on' the bed'.

Despite your comments, I think we agree more than we disagree.

No challenge. If you're under/between the covers, you're "in" the bed. If you are on top of any/all covers, you are "on" the bed.

I get into more trouble with the lying/laying business.

 

[_Lynn_]

No challenge. If you're under/between the covers, you're "in" the bed. If you are on top of any/all covers, you are "on" the bed.

I get into more trouble with the lying/laying business.

Business not pleasure?

 

[sr71plt]

Business not pleasure?

I don't find it a pleasure dealing with that sort of confusion, no. Editing doesn't give me an orgasm.

 

[_Lynn_]

I don't find it a pleasure dealing with that sort of confusion, no. Editing doesn't give me an orgasm.

Yeah, yeah, so my brain read that minus the editing reference.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I don't find it a pleasure dealing with that sort of confusion, no. Editing doesn't give me an orgasm.

Hell, at my advanced age, sex doesn't give me an orgasm. Sad, I know, but all the same true. Sucks to be north of 50.

 

[_Lynn_]

Hell, at my advanced age, sex doesn't give me an orgasm. Sad, I know, but all the same true. Sucks to be north of 50.

I wouldn't mind being only 50.

 

[mynameisben]

Oh, gee Willie Willikers! Isn't this all just a tempest in a teapot? If the flow of your story critically depends on whether the heroine sits in a chair instead of on a chair, tell me now so I can go read Skank! Magazine instead.

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, gee Willie Willikers! Isn't this all just a tempest in a teapot? If the flow of your story critically depends on whether the heroine sits in a chair instead of on a chair, tell me now so I can go read Skank! Magazine instead.

Oh, I think it's worthwhile to discuss anything on a board about editing that concerns reader comfort with a read.

Perhaps you wandered into the wrong area of the forum?

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I think this thread has ceased being about "in" or "on" and has moved on to something different, to be honest. Which is fine by me.

 

[mynameisben]

Oh, I think it's worthwhile to discussion anything on a board about editing that concerns reader comfort with a read.

Perhaps you wandered into the wrong area of the forum?

Yeah, okay. Have yer fun!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Yeah, okay. Have yer fun!

<grin> No, I think I won't. Instead I'll be appreciative and respectful of this forum, as it deserves, and leave my personal opinions out of it.

 

[sr71plt]

I think this thread has ceased being about "in" or "on" and has moved on to something different, to be honest. Which is fine by me.

Oh, I think it's staying pretty much on the issue of the same family of word usage conundrums.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

<grin> No, I think I won't. Instead I'll be appreciative and respectful of this forum, as it deserves, and leave my personal opinions out of it.

LOL SR, thought you'd be all over this one given my past transgressions.

Okay, back on topic.

Not sure what more can be said about "in" versus "on", but it has been a helpful discussion to me as an editor. Always helps to get other perspectives, and it's always a pleasure when the discussion can involve the input of SR and ML, not to diss others who have also added in.

Thanks to all. Not that I am trying to end the thread, let's keep conversing, this is a nice thing.

Are you "in" the Chistmas mood, or are you "in" the Holiday mood?

 

[sr71plt]

Are you "in" the Chistmas mood, or are you "in" the Holiday mood?

Yes.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Yes.

Not sure why I was expecting anything different. You're an ice cube, SR, not that it's a bad thing. This is a hot topic amongst those I work with -- took today off, fyi. Work gets in the way of my drinking, not so much lol.

But I thought this whole America thing was built upon a foundation of christianty, yet more and more the vestiges of the same are being stripped away. (Should christianity start with a cap?)

Better stop here, applying brakes, screeching to a halt lest I launch into a ... tirade, rant, call it what you might.

<Sip> Okay, better now. What were we talking about?

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Apologies for spoiling the thread

 

[_Lynn_]

Are you "in" the Christmas mood, or are you "in" the Holiday mood?

I send cards that say 'Season's Greetings' between Christmas and New Years just to be different.

 

[LadyCibelle]

Complicated language

AS forgive me to hijack your thread with my question but it kinda fit with your question.

Ok, now, please people don't laugh at me.

Lets see if I can make myself understood.

Why is the singular subject of a sentence needs an *s* at the end of the verb, but doesn't when the subject is plural?

Ex #1: The cat drags the mouse all over my clean floor.

Ex #2: The cats run all over the place when they hear the dog coming back after their walk.

Ex #1a: The roads clear faster than expected after that big snowstorm.

Ex #2a: The road twists and turns before becoming flat-lands for the next 15 hours.

That question has been gnawing at me for a while now. Oh, don't worry I know, I could have gotten the info by spending a few hours looking at grammar/vocabulary/sentence structure etc... But, I don't have that luxury anymore, a few minutes is pretty much all I can support, and we have some very knowledgeable people here and I'm hoping that one of them will be able to answer my question.

LadyC

Ps: I miss you guys, there isn't a day where I don't think about you all and hope to be coming back soon.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

... About in versus on, if you live "on" an island, in what context would you live "in" the country (if it comprised one), e.g. on Grenada or Malta but in Singapore or Australia?

Ah, good point. I don't live "on" Antartica, I live "in" Antartica. Although I do believe the intent is that one lives "within" a society, as opposed to "on" a society. ...

The French have it worse than us! Their equivalent of "in" and "on" for countries is random, depending which country you mean (eg "en ecosse" [in Scotland] but "au canada" [in Canada]).

... Why is the singular subject of a sentence needs an *s* at the end of the verb, but doesn't when the subject is plural? ...

It just is. There doesn't have to be a reason, because natural languages (as opposed to Klingon, Esperanto, Interglossa, et al) were not designed, and therefore contain no requirement for logic.

... Oh, don't worry I know, I could have gotten the info by spending a few hours looking at grammar/vocabulary/sentence structure etc. ...

Oh no you couldn't!

 

[LadyCibelle]

It just is. There doesn't have to be a reason, because natural languages (as opposed to Klingon, Esperanto, Interglossa, et al) were not designed, and therefore contain no requirement for logic.

Oh no you couldn't!

Seriously? It just is? But why? There must be a reason, even if completely inane, for such a rule?

I would think that someone somewhere decided that such and such would require "plural" verbs while this and this would require "singular" verbs. I dunno, it always puzzled me why and, as much as I like you Snooper, it kinda disappoints me to learn that there isn't a single reason or rule why it's like that.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Seriously? It just is? But why? There must be a reason, even if completely inane, for such a rule?

I would think that someone somewhere decided that such and such would require "plural" verbs while this and this would require "singular" verbs. I dunno, it always puzzled me why and, as much as I like you Snooper, it kinda disappoints me to learn that there isn't a single reason or rule why it's like that.

Lady C, I'm no expert but I don't think the third person singular present verb form is plural. I've forgotten most of the morphology, but I remember the old constructions were, 'I sayeth, thee sayeth, he sayeth'. The 'th' morphed into 's' and got dropped from present tense conjugation except for 3rd person singular.

Still funny to think that, 'I love her' but 'she loves me'. Just a quirk.

snooper, whatever their faults, the French are logical. Female countries (angleterre, etats unis etc.) take a l', au, aux, but masculine countries take 'en'. They get in a bit of a twist with some islands and Israel.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

... snooper, whatever their faults, the French are logical. Female countries (angleterre, etats unis etc.) take a l', au, aux, but masculine countries take 'en'.

That raises the question of how, exactly, you determine the sex of a country? That was never explained when I learned French, nor was it explained for any inanimate objects, nor why some female humans are masculine (e.g. Madame le professeur).

They get in a bit of a twist with some islands and Israel.

Yes, the rule you cited works ... except when it doesn't!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

AS forgive me to hijack your thread with my question but it kinda fit with your question.

Apology unnecessary, you are always welcome here

I have stayed away for several days, been busy with all of the Christmas preparations as we are hosting a dinner on Christmas day and the wife wants everything to be perfect (for me, making sure we have enough to drink is adequate, lol). Found out a squirrel (I suspect as I saw one making a quick escape) got into the box of Christmas lights in the shed, made a nest out of the chewed-up wires <sigh>. A mess, and after dealing with raccoons in the summer...

Okay, sorry, took a while to get to this point. I don't know the "rules" but as I started this thread I figured I should at least add to it. I did/do a lot of reading and I just know what looks/sounds right. So I cannot add anything intelligent to this discussion. As I said, since I started it I felt compelled to make an addition, even if it's not helpful. Don't know the ettiquette here.