Expressions

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What means "burned to the ground"? I couldn't find a good translation to portuguese of this expression. I know it's related to something that was completely destroyed, but I can find a better translation for it.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

'Completely destroyed by fire' sounds fine to me.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

This is the only way I could contact you.

I was recently looking up the Ms. Mrs. Mz. title question. I noticed that you posted a response in which you claimed to have never encountered Mz. In unified school district 501 of Topeka Kansas I was trained to use Mz. exclusively. I think the geographical difference is interesting. I'm 23 years old and my 33 year old brother had the same training in the same school. I recently moved to Portland, Oregon. I go to Portland State University and work part time in an office. No one else uses it here but no one has objected and they seem to know what it means. A few people have even praised me for it.

The school I attended even taught us that Ms. is an abreviation for Miss, and only for single women. That is clearly not the norm in most places today. However, the two women who replied to my emails with praise for a tiny grammatical detail clearly think as I do.

I just thought you might like the exposure to a linguistic mutation that seems to have mostly failed.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Thanks for the information. There was a time, of course, when Ms itself was considered odd, although now it is, as you know, widely accepted. Perhaps Mz represents a failed attempt,as you suggest. But I'm surprised that a school would teach that, since they normally only teach what is considered standard.

I wonder if Mz is a form of 'down home country folks' kind of speaking? eg Howdy Mz Johnson. I googled 'Howdy Mz' and got a handful of hits. Did older people ever talk that way in Kansas?

Clive

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