=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= EDline Vol. 6, no. 47 (25 November 2001) Editorial mailing list (digest version) Published by the Electric Editors =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Contents: Q & A [2qi] Usage of "couple" FYI [3gr] Writers' & Artists' Yearbook [3gs] The History of the Book @ Oxford (HoBo) [5] Bookmarks [8] Administration =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ---[2] Q & A --------------------------------------------------- ** [2qi] Usage of "couple" Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 From: Carola Crosse, ccrosse@gmx.net [Cross-posted from LANGline] I have a question about the usage of the word "couple" in different English-speaking countries. I learned my English in Great Britain, and as far as I know, "couple" is used similarly to the German "paar" - a couple being 2 people, but a couple of days being anything between 2 and, well, several. Now I have repeatedly had arguments with an Australian which resulted from me saying I'd call him in a couple of days, meaning like 3 or 4 or maybe 5, and him being angry when I didn't call exactly 2 days later. So in Australian usage, does "a couple" always mean only 2? What about in American and British usage? Did I get something wrong there or was he just hearing what he wanted to? ---------------------- Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 From: David Ibbetson, isserlis@home.com In British usage I think "a couple of days" is vague as in Germany. Probably that's why I don't think I'd say it. I'd be more likely to say "two or three days" or "later this week". I think it's the same in Canada. ---------------------- Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 From: John Morris, johnjeff@meadowdance.org Here in the northeastern US, couple is almost always a vague number greater than one and less than several or a bunch. The only time I would understand a strict meaning of 2 would be when speaking of a romantically involved couple (perhaps it's the lack of the prepositional phrase). In other words, if I say "I saw a couple of people at the swimming hole," it could be anywhere from 2 to about 5. ---[3] FYI ----------------------------------------------------- ** [3gr] Writers' & Artists' Yearbook Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 From: Jane Dorner, jane@editor.net I have been asked to say what I would do to make Writers' & Artists' Yearbook better. If any of you have a wish-list, or have any thoughts about it (negative as well as positive) then this is an opportunity to make it more into the reference book you would ideally like. I'm not saying I can make that happen, but I can co-ordinate responses and suggest improvements from a wider writing community. And if anyone likes the yellow competitor (The Writer's Handbook) better, it would be good to know why. Replies (if any) of any sort are welcome. And it's fine to forward this to someone else who might have a view. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ ** [3gs] The History of the Book @ Oxford (HoBo) Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 From: Ian Gadd, hobo@english.ox.ac.uk [Cross-posted from SHARP-L] After two years of generous hosting by the English Faculty at the University of Cambridge, HoBo has now moved to the English Faculty at the University of Oxford. As a result, its new URL is: < http://www.english.ox.ac.uk/hobo/ > HoBo was set up in 1996 by myself and Martin Moonie as the History of the Book @ Oxford. Its primary aim is to provide a comprehensive calendar of events in the UK related to the history of the book - seminars, lectures, conferences, bibliographical society meetings and book fairs are all included. [Snip] HoBo also provides a number of related resources, including a list of the current contents of the leading anglophone journals in the field of book history. ---[5] Bookmarks ---------------------------------------------- Date: Thurs, 22 Nov 2001 From: Matthew Brett, Matthew.Brett@bristol.ac.uk Lexicate Online Dictionary List < http://www.lexicate.com/ > Lexicate is an online dictionary listing site that's growing pretty fast at the moment. Its main strengths are that it is completely graphics-free and that it's quick to navigate (three clicks is enough to get almost anywhere). ---------------------- Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2001 From: Margaret Crockett, uczcmac@ucl.ac.uk Past and future summer/GMT change dates: < http://www.npl.co.uk/npl/ctm/time_summer.html > ---[8] Administration ------------------------------------------ EDline is a discussion list about editorial and business matters for members of the publishing community. It focuses on issues of interest to professional editors, proofreaders, typesetters, writers and those in associated jobs. To post to the mailing list via Topica, use the following address: EDline@topica.com For digest subscribers, please post your EDline messages to: bywater@ntlworld.com * Accented characters: When writing accented characters, please adopt the following convention to show the accent after the character: / acute \ grave ^ circumflex ~ tilde " umlaut/diaeresis , cedilla % o slash aa a ring sz German double s | long s _ line above letter * Homepage and back issues: Visit the Electric Editors at: < http://www.electriceditors.net/ > Archives of the EDline automated discussions can be found at: < http://www.topica.com/lists/EDline > All messages contributed to EDline, whether automated or digest versions, are archived on the Electric Editors' Website. These archives can be found at: < http://www.electriceditors.net/EDline/ > --------- ** The views expressed in this mailing list are strictly those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the moderators or of the Electric Editors. ** Articles (c) 2001, by individual contributors Design (c) 1996, 1997, 2000 Iain Brown Compilation (c) 2001, Iain Brown / The Electric Editors =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= END OF EDline 6.47 Next digest issue: 2 December 2001 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=