Is “a such thing”… a thing? Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)Why is “lucked out” such a good thing to be?Origin of “no such thing” idiomatic phrase“The next big thing” phraseIs there such a thing as a reverse dictionary?“In such case” and “in such a case”What idioms can describe a tough or difficult thing (such as a test)?cancelled with two L's a generation thing or regional thing?What does “such as they are” mean?Is there such thing as a 'hyperphrase'?Is there such a thing as “pangram for phonemes”?
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Is “a such thing”… a thing?
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)Why is “lucked out” such a good thing to be?Origin of “no such thing” idiomatic phrase“The next big thing” phraseIs there such a thing as a reverse dictionary?“In such case” and “in such a case”What idioms can describe a tough or difficult thing (such as a test)?cancelled with two L's a generation thing or regional thing?What does “such as they are” mean?Is there such thing as a 'hyperphrase'?Is there such a thing as “pangram for phonemes”?
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John McWhorter, a Columbia U linguistics professor who hosts the excellent "Lexicon Valley" podcast, has on several occasions used the phrase a such thing where I would have said such a thing. I thought it odd enough to check Google Ngrams, which shows only one instance in print since the 1800s.
But it occurred to me that we routinely say "no such thing" or "any such thing", so "a such thing" isn't unreasonable. Is this a usage that's coming into vogue? If this were anyone else I'd just say he's mistaken, but I respect him and his credentials enough to doubt myself.
phrases expressions american-english
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
add a comment |
John McWhorter, a Columbia U linguistics professor who hosts the excellent "Lexicon Valley" podcast, has on several occasions used the phrase a such thing where I would have said such a thing. I thought it odd enough to check Google Ngrams, which shows only one instance in print since the 1800s.
But it occurred to me that we routinely say "no such thing" or "any such thing", so "a such thing" isn't unreasonable. Is this a usage that's coming into vogue? If this were anyone else I'd just say he's mistaken, but I respect him and his credentials enough to doubt myself.
phrases expressions american-english
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
I wish there were no 'a such thing'...
– Artyom Lugovoy
5 hours ago
1
I think he's being clever. Like when a doctor who is about to inject you or take out a stitch says "You will feel a thing."
– Mitch
5 hours ago
@Mitch - Possibly, but he uses it casually, with no indication that he's being sly or clever. Like: "if there's a such thing as a neutral observer" or similar. Dialect, maybe?
– Jim Mack
2 hours ago
add a comment |
John McWhorter, a Columbia U linguistics professor who hosts the excellent "Lexicon Valley" podcast, has on several occasions used the phrase a such thing where I would have said such a thing. I thought it odd enough to check Google Ngrams, which shows only one instance in print since the 1800s.
But it occurred to me that we routinely say "no such thing" or "any such thing", so "a such thing" isn't unreasonable. Is this a usage that's coming into vogue? If this were anyone else I'd just say he's mistaken, but I respect him and his credentials enough to doubt myself.
phrases expressions american-english
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
John McWhorter, a Columbia U linguistics professor who hosts the excellent "Lexicon Valley" podcast, has on several occasions used the phrase a such thing where I would have said such a thing. I thought it odd enough to check Google Ngrams, which shows only one instance in print since the 1800s.
But it occurred to me that we routinely say "no such thing" or "any such thing", so "a such thing" isn't unreasonable. Is this a usage that's coming into vogue? If this were anyone else I'd just say he's mistaken, but I respect him and his credentials enough to doubt myself.
phrases expressions american-english
phrases expressions american-english
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
asked 7 hours ago
Jim MackJim Mack
7,29021833
7,29021833
I wish there were no 'a such thing'...
– Artyom Lugovoy
5 hours ago
1
I think he's being clever. Like when a doctor who is about to inject you or take out a stitch says "You will feel a thing."
– Mitch
5 hours ago
@Mitch - Possibly, but he uses it casually, with no indication that he's being sly or clever. Like: "if there's a such thing as a neutral observer" or similar. Dialect, maybe?
– Jim Mack
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I wish there were no 'a such thing'...
– Artyom Lugovoy
5 hours ago
1
I think he's being clever. Like when a doctor who is about to inject you or take out a stitch says "You will feel a thing."
– Mitch
5 hours ago
@Mitch - Possibly, but he uses it casually, with no indication that he's being sly or clever. Like: "if there's a such thing as a neutral observer" or similar. Dialect, maybe?
– Jim Mack
2 hours ago
I wish there were no 'a such thing'...
– Artyom Lugovoy
5 hours ago
I wish there were no 'a such thing'...
– Artyom Lugovoy
5 hours ago
1
1
I think he's being clever. Like when a doctor who is about to inject you or take out a stitch says "You will feel a thing."
– Mitch
5 hours ago
I think he's being clever. Like when a doctor who is about to inject you or take out a stitch says "You will feel a thing."
– Mitch
5 hours ago
@Mitch - Possibly, but he uses it casually, with no indication that he's being sly or clever. Like: "if there's a such thing as a neutral observer" or similar. Dialect, maybe?
– Jim Mack
2 hours ago
@Mitch - Possibly, but he uses it casually, with no indication that he's being sly or clever. Like: "if there's a such thing as a neutral observer" or similar. Dialect, maybe?
– Jim Mack
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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I wish there were no 'a such thing'...
– Artyom Lugovoy
5 hours ago
1
I think he's being clever. Like when a doctor who is about to inject you or take out a stitch says "You will feel a thing."
– Mitch
5 hours ago
@Mitch - Possibly, but he uses it casually, with no indication that he's being sly or clever. Like: "if there's a such thing as a neutral observer" or similar. Dialect, maybe?
– Jim Mack
2 hours ago