Writing “and” in “three hundred and twelve”?

Well, you don’t have to write “and” if you are an American! In American English, it is usually omitted, especially in formal styles. If you were living in America and had to write a cheque (or “check” as the Americans would spell it) for $312, you would write “Three hundred twelve”. In British English, however, the word “and” is normally used between “hundred” and the following number. That is the rule.

* We have received about a hundred and fifty applications. (British English)

* We have received about a hundred fifty applications. (American English)

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 01, 2003

Is it “media suggest” or “media suggests”?

The word “medium” has two plural forms — the Latin “media” and the English “mediums”.

“Media” is normally used to refer to a combination of radio, television, and newspapers. The three together are generally referred to as the “mass media”. Since “media” is considered a plural noun, it is usually followed by a plural verb.

Here are a few examples. * The media suggest that the colleges are full of drugs. * I am told that the media have not been invited. * I don’t understand why the media aren’t being used in the classroom.

In informal speech, there is a tendency to use a singular verb after the word “media”. In speech, it is common to hear people say, * The media suggests that the colleges are full of drugs. * The media is getting very excited about the event. * The media isn’t being used in the classroom because teachers aren’t trained.

Careful users of the language however object to such sentences. If you want to refer to just radio or television, then use the word “medium”. For example, * Television has become a very powerful medium. * According to Bala, the Internet is the most exciting medium since television.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 01, 2003

“fall ( or drop) like ninepins”

The expression “falling like ninepins” is normally used to indicate that people are being overcome very quickly — dying, falling, or becoming ill very quickly. It is also possible to say, “drop like ninepins”.

Here are a few examples. * On the fifth day, the batsmen fell like ninepins. * If this disease spreads, people will drop like ninepins. * The students were trying to follow the gym instructor, but they were dropping like ninepins. It was so funny.

This is an expression mainly used in British English. Ninepins or “skittles” as it is sometimes called, is the name of a game. The aim of this game is to knock down nine bottle shaped objects (ninepins) by rolling a ball at them. Sounds a lot like “bowling”, doesn’t it?

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 01, 2003

“Aging” and “ageing”

As far as the meaning is concerned there is no difference. Both refer to the process of growing old. The British spell the word “ageing”, while the Americans and the Australians tend to spell it “aging”. The two words are pronounced the same way. In the Indian context, you would be better off spelling the word with the “e”.

* No one recognised the ageing/aging movie star. * The company would like to get rid of some of the aging/ageing machinery.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 01, 2003