Octopuses...

[mangaman]

Can I be the first boring pedant to question the plural of octopus.

They are undoubtedly fantastic creatures but it appears according to the Oxford Dictionaries site if you see a group of them you ought to say octopodes. (Although octopuses and octopi seem acceptable - I'm sure they wouldn't object)

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/plurals

 

[ComedyPilot]

Octupus is a foodstuff for individuals with no appreciation of bread sauce.

 

[snapper_37]

Put Old Boy out of your minds

Which I had ... quite happily. Until now!

 

[theclaud]

Can I be the first boring pedant to question the plural of octopus.

They are undoubtedly fantastic creatures but it appears according to the Oxford Dictionaries site if you see a group of them you ought to say octopodes. (Although octopuses and octopi seem acceptable - I'm sure they wouldn't object)

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/plurals

I knew someone would. I don't like "octopi", and there is nothing on earth that will persuade me to ask the fishmonger for a couple of octopodes. If we insist on octopuses, there isn't a damn thing the pedants can do . It reminds me of those ridiculous collective nouns (you know - an exultation of larks or a murmuration of starlings or whatever). Their only purpose seems be to an entirely self-reflexive one - words that do nothing but show that you know they exist.

 

[theclaud]

Octupus is a foodstuff for individuals with no appreciation of bread sauce.

Not true. But it is certainly a foodstuff that should never be paired with bread sauce.

 

[theclaud]

Which I had ... quite happily. Until now!

Sorry. I had a sleepless night after watching Hunger on C4. Think of this as my revenge.

 

[mangaman]

..there is nothing on earth that will persuade me to ask the fishmonger for a couple of octopodes. If we insist on octopuses, there isn't a damn thing the pedants can do ...

Oh go on - I'd love to go into the fishmongers and ask for octopodes in a
Brian Sewell type accent.

You're right though, there's nothing the pedants can do unless we form a Pedants' Brigade.

A bit like the PC Brigade but less fun.

 

[ComedyPilot]

I could regale you with horror stories of my consumption of octopus, but I won't. I'll try to let smilies paint the picture.

Greek Islands 1992 Met someonegot on with her (Very well)got invited to dinner Had octopusFelt tired felt odd Made my excuseswent back to the apartment (alone)visited the big white telephone (well, it was more of a hole in the floor of the shower cubicle) Woke up the next morning with a stomach that felt like it had been 10 rounds with Joe Bugner Spent last 3 days of holiday on the balcony (a cement slab stuck precariously to the rendered wall of the apartment block) so as not to be too far from the khazi

 

[NickM]

Sorry. I had a sleepless night after watching Hunger on C4.

Ah, I remember well walking home past the Short Strand on the night Bobby Sands expired - the clangour of bin lids on pavement, the stench of burning bus in my nostrils...

 

[theclaud]

Oh go on - I'd love to go into the fishmongers and ask for octopodes in a
Brian Sewell type accent.

My fishmonger is on the surly side. I'm not going to risk it. It sounds more Stephen Fry than Brian Sewell to me.

 

[theclaud]

Spent last 3 days of holiday on the balcony (a cement slab stuck precariously to the rendered wall of the apartment block) so as not to be too far from the khazi

The smilies were nearly as much of an ordeal for me . And I told you it was a bad idea to have it with bread sauce.

 

[dellzeqq]

Sorry. I had a sleepless night after watching Hunger on C4. Think of this as my revenge.

for a second I thought that you meant



and was cursing myself for having missed it. Must start thread on starvation as narcissism (today's word)

 

[yenrod]

Sorry! No, Yenners - you're not. I should have looked more carefully before posting. I put it better, though, if you don't mind my saying so .

Merry Christmas - Claudy' if theirs anyone I would meet from here it'd be you...your image is sooo alluring baby ! - I know this'll wind you to hell but still it only comes once a year eh luv

 

[dellzeqq]

words fail me.........

 

[rich p]

I've ate legs too