No knuckle-rapping intended.  Just our usual discussion of usage.  Sorry if I came across that way, Scott.

Herb

Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN  47306
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad Johnston [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: April 7, 2009 7:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Syntax, cheatin, and "times like these"

Bravo, Herb.

You rapped his knuckles in a way that will not twist anyone's knickers.

Such a feat is damned hard to do.

I salute you.

--- On Tue, 4/7/09, STAHLKE, HERBERT F <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I don't have much K12 experience, so I can't comment on educational law involved.  As to "in times like this" vs. "in times like these," for what it's worth, the singular gets 146k googits and the plural gets 432k.  This confirms my experience, that the phrase uses the plural, but it also suggests that both are used widely.

Herb


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