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Post by The_L on Apr 3, 2011 5:41:03 GMT -5
So, Alan Greenspan is an idiot. Surprise, surprise. Time for some good-natured fun at his expense via the "notably rare exceptions" meme. With notably rare exceptions, all commenters on the message board 4chan are the pinnacle of politeness and decency. With notably rare exceptions, all cars are white. With notably rare exceptions, Shakespeare did not write any sonnets. With notably rare exceptions, Arthur Dent's life was boring and uneventful.
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Post by lighthorseman on Apr 3, 2011 5:45:32 GMT -5
NotablE[/b] rare exceptions [/pedant]
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Post by The_L on Apr 3, 2011 6:54:31 GMT -5
:<
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Apr 3, 2011 8:57:41 GMT -5
I may be confused, but isn't 'rare' an adjective, meaning that 'notably' could, as an adverb, be used correctly in this situation?
Whatever, Greenspan is an idiot.
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Post by shykid on Apr 3, 2011 11:05:46 GMT -5
With notably rare exceptions, I am straight as a line parabola.
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Post by Smurfette Principle on Apr 3, 2011 11:09:00 GMT -5
I may be confused, but isn't 'rare' an adjective, meaning that 'notably' could, as an adverb, be used correctly in this situation? It could be used correctly... if the situation was notably rare. In this case, it is not. With notably rare exceptions, serial killers adore people.
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Post by Art Vandelay on Apr 3, 2011 11:19:05 GMT -5
WNRE, I spend all my time naked.
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Post by shykid on Apr 3, 2011 12:32:05 GMT -5
Classy (WNRE, of course).
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Post by John E on Apr 3, 2011 12:55:33 GMT -5
WNRE, Westboro Baptist Church is a haven of religious tolerance.
WNRE, Charlie Sheen makes perfect sense.
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Post by shykid on Apr 3, 2011 12:57:08 GMT -5
WNRE, TimeCube is a very lucid, coherent theory.
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Post by MaybeNever on Apr 3, 2011 13:49:32 GMT -5
I may be confused, but isn't 'rare' an adjective, meaning that 'notably' could, as an adverb, be used correctly in this situation? It could be used correctly... if the situation was notably rare. In this case, it is not. If it were rare. With notable rare exceptions, people use the subjunctive tense correctly.
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Post by John E on Apr 3, 2011 17:19:45 GMT -5
Been thinking about the grammar question and here's what I've come up with:
If "notable" is modifying the noun "exceptions," then it's an adjective, and should be "notable." If on the other hand, it's modifying the adjective "rare," then it's an adverb and should be "notably."
The difference in meaning is that in the former, the exceptions are both notable and rare, while in the latter, the rarity of the exceptions is notable. If it were the former, however, the phase would probably need a comma. i.e. "Notable, rare exceptions." Since there is no comma, the word "notably" is most likely meant to be modifying the adjective and is therefor correct as it is.
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Apr 3, 2011 18:16:29 GMT -5
That's what I was thinking, but I hardly ever paid attention in English, so what do I know.
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Post by Haseen on Apr 3, 2011 21:21:12 GMT -5
With notably rare exceptions (My Immortal, for example), fanfics are every bit as good as the original work from which they have been derived.
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Post by Smurfette Principle on Apr 3, 2011 23:33:02 GMT -5
Been thinking about the grammar question and here's what I've come up with: If "notable" is modifying the noun "exceptions," then it's an adjective, and should be "notable." If on the other hand, it's modifying the adjective "rare," then it's an adverb and should be "notably." The difference in meaning is that in the former, the exceptions are both notable and rare, while in the latter, the rarity of the exceptions is notable. If it were the former, however, the phase would probably need a comma. i.e. "Notable, rare exceptions." Since there is no comma, the word "notably" is most likely meant to be modifying the adjective and is therefor correct as it is. It could be "With notable, rare exceptions," where "notable" and "rare" are two adjectives, both describing "exceptions."
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