Grammatical Quandary
-
- Posts: 7267
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
Grammatical Quandary
I'm creating an (Eventbrite entry) form and have an important query for you all.
Is it correct to write
The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players who are aged 21 years or less as at August 31st 2023.
or
The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players who are aged 21 years or fewer as at August 31st 2023.
or
The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players who are aged 21 years or under as at August 31st 2023.
or
This is utter bo**ocks and John should go back to the drawing board
Your opinions, as always, will be most appreciated.
(My preference is for fewer rather than less)
Is it correct to write
The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players who are aged 21 years or less as at August 31st 2023.
or
The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players who are aged 21 years or fewer as at August 31st 2023.
or
The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players who are aged 21 years or under as at August 31st 2023.
or
This is utter bo**ocks and John should go back to the drawing board
Your opinions, as always, will be most appreciated.
(My preference is for fewer rather than less)
Last edited by John Upham on Thu Jan 12, 2023 7:07 pm, edited 3 times in total.
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
-
- Posts: 1758
- Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:52 pm
Re: Grammatical Quandry
Surely 21 years or under is the norm.
-
- Posts: 4840
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:13 am
- Location: Bideford
Re: Grammatical Quandry
Less is more correct than fewer in this instance because you are treating the 21 years as an amount of continuous time and not as 21 individual years. But, as Alex says, under would be more usual.
-
- Posts: 5268
- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
- Location: Millom, Cumbria
Re: Grammatical Quandry
And its actually "Quandary"
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
-
- Posts: 5852
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:28 pm
Re: Grammatical Quandry
er, "it's" actually "Quandary"
(This could run and run...)
(This could run and run...)
-
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2017 5:29 pm
Re: Grammatical Quandry
Had I been given the choice I would have gone for:- "The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players, who will be aged under 22 years on August 31st 2023." Is it too late to include this as an option?
-
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2017 1:26 am
Re: Grammatical Quandry
Possibly clearer, and simpler, is "open to all born on or after [insert preferred date]".
-
- Posts: 3738
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:01 pm
- Location: Hayes (Middx)
Re: Grammatical Quandry
My understanding of EJCOA is that you've gotten off to a bad start already. Their age determinations are based on the calendar year rather than the English academic year, in order to align with FIDE. I would suggest you check with Rob first, before worrying about your grandma.John Upham wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:39 pmI'm creating an (Eventbrite entry) form and have an important query for you all.
Is it correct to write
The Hampshire EJCOA Championships Qualifier is for all chess players who are aged 21 years or less as at August 31st 2023.
International Arbiter, FIDE Instructor
Richmond Junior Chess Club
Fulham Junior Chess Club
ECF Games Played Abroad Administrator
Richmond Junior Chess Club
Fulham Junior Chess Club
ECF Games Played Abroad Administrator
-
- Posts: 1216
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 11:35 am
Re: Grammatical Quandry
Why include the word years? Surely under 22 is clear enough?
-
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:24 pm
Re: Grammatical Quandry
"Both of the above are totally flawed and should be re-written"
Surely not "both" when there are three options.
Surely not "both" when there are three options.
-
- Posts: 3738
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:01 pm
- Location: Hayes (Middx)
Re: Grammatical Quandry
I vote to add a fifth option, "This is utter bo**ocks and John should go back to the drawing board"
International Arbiter, FIDE Instructor
Richmond Junior Chess Club
Fulham Junior Chess Club
ECF Games Played Abroad Administrator
Richmond Junior Chess Club
Fulham Junior Chess Club
ECF Games Played Abroad Administrator
-
- Posts: 2154
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 1:37 am
Re: Grammatical Quandry
How about: "the event is open to everyone aged under 22 on <whatever date it is>"?
-
- Posts: 7267
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
Re: Grammatical Quandry
Your wish has been my command.Paul McKeown wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 6:22 pmI vote to add a fifth option, "This is utter bo**ocks and John should go back to the drawing board"
I have used a drawing board when doing a Technical Drawing Ordinary Level in 1976 at Yateley School With 11 other GCEs TD had to go along with Domestic Science much to my future regret to bring me back down to 10.
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
-
- Posts: 1295
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:12 pm
Re: Grammatical Quandary
I know some chess organisers relish the opportunity to devise forms and systems of their own choosing rather than have something imposed. But given this is a regional qualifier for a national event it seems to me that one of those instances where a minimal template might be in order. This would at the very least ensure entrants are invited on a consistent basis, and are aware of the details of the national stages for which they are trying to qualify.
-
- Posts: 8479
- Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:28 pm
Re: Grammatical Quandry
No, it really isn't. Sometimes "under X" is intended to include X, sometimes not.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a QR code stamped on a human face — forever.