Novocastrian

Err, no it doesn't. Bi-weekly means once every two weeks. If you wanted to say "twice a week" with a similar construction, it would be "semi-weekly".

cf. bi-annual (once every 2 years)
semi-annual (once every 6 months)

Novocastrian

D' y' knaa wheor ah gerron for the Toon, pet?

Perfectly clear to me.

Cookie

As a fellow Aberdonian we probably find the NF (Irish) accent easier to understand than most because the Doric language is a mouthful itself and usually spoken at one helluva speed.

ken fit I mean quine

fledermaus

My mum went to Newcastle from Sunderland and couldn't understand what they were saying. Some of my stupid "friends" down south couldn't understand my Dad's accent, funnily enough some American students had no problem, and, even if they did they wouldn't dream of mocking him.

Languages vary and evolve. We shouldn't look down on someone because they speak differently to the way we do. It may be a local speech pattern, all the "would've" "would have", "he done" phrases. I do hate it when I see these written down, especially spelling mistakes in homophones. One thing the rows on this forum have taught me is to try and be more tolerant of other's writing style. It’s hard to do, and because of the spelling and grammar errors posts often don't make sense to me on first reading.

I expect formal writing to be correct. I have seen job adverts that talk of "to better serve" and one for a "Priniciple Accountant". I do think accountants should have principles though.

Back to the OP, stupid mistake to criticize others language and not use the spell checker. Also it’s another country another way of doing things. We have to learn! I don't like to hear the use of "impact" as in "it impacted us". I could go on but I won't. (Sighs of relief all round.)

Purley

Well, I must admit the OP does have a point. After all, everyone in the UK speaks perfect grammatical English all the time, and as well they all spell perfectly too!!! This is what gives people from the UK the right to criticize other people (or should it be criticise?).

I figure (think?) that if you can't accept the differences; you can't accept that Canadian/Australian/New Zealand etc. etc. version of English is different but just as correct as the English version, then you should stay in England where, as I said, they all speak perfectly!!

fledermaus

Too right sunshine

As evidenced by the consistent use of good spelling and grammar on this forum!

montreal mike

But even the spell checker has a limited use.

I recall reading an article about sexual assault where the word 'therapist' came out as 'the rapist'.

A simple typo perhaps, but not funny.

montreal mike

Which makes me wonder how many here will re-read their posts. I try to for mine.

Pamela 1

We had been in Canada over 20 years before my husband heard the expression of 'kitty corner' for the first time. He was quite confused and had no idea of what it meant. I had heard it a number of times so then had to explain what it meant.

As for using words like 'too' and 'to' frequently people write 'loose' for 'lose' may be it would seem that English was not their strong subject even for those in N.America.

Butch Cassidy

Welcome back old 'friend'.
Now why don't you take your own advice?

Novocastrian

I have been in North America on and off (mostly on) since 1977. I'd never heard of the expression until it appeared in this thread. Is it a regional thing?

Butch Cassidy

I had actually heard it used in the UK. I have also heard Katie Corner

Novocastrian

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kitty-corner

I've never heard the alternative "catercorner" either. I must get out more.

fledermaus

(oh no, will you warn us when??)


I have heard it used in these parts, took me a while to work out what they meant.

YYZlover

I'm not even born british/english spoken but learnt when I was a kid and kept it going. Add to it being grammatically and spelling dyslexic. (I'm still trying to work out how I even managed to teach English.) "of" instead of "have" is one of my pet peeves.

I disagree! The two sound different. Or at least they should.