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Philip Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
'NOTHER
An obvious error that annoys me has become practically commonplace in the U.S. We have the words 'other' and 'another', the uses of which don't need to be determined to discuss this phenomenon. So often on newscasts and in daily speech when the person means "but that's a whole other [different] story" we hear "but that's a whole nother story". The 'a' in the example seems to be the first part of 'another', transfered to a place before the modifier 'whole'. This wouldn't occur if the word 'different' were used instead of 'other'.
I find this irritating especially because it has become so widespread. Does it occur in other English-speaking countries?
I find this irritating especially because it has become so widespread. Does it occur in other English-speaking countries?
Top answer
I haven't heard it often in BrE. It does sound irritating. But I suppose it will eventually become unfashionable.
- I haven't heard it often in BrE.
- It does sound irritating.
- But I suppose it will eventually become unfashionable.
- MrP
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3 Answers
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I haven't heard it often in BrE.
It does sound irritating. But I suppose it will eventually become unfashionable.
MrP
It does sound irritating. But I suppose it will eventually become unfashionable.
MrP
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MrPedanticI haven't heard it often in BrE.Unfortunately, I've recently seen it in print!
It does sound irritating. But I suppose it will eventually become unfashionable.
MrP
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Hi,
I tend to see this as one of those 'errors' that educated people sometimes adopt in a joking and ironic kind of way, and perhaps to make their speech seem a little more 'folksy'. If there was a terrible disaster, followed by another terrible disaster, I doubt that such people would say "that's a whole 'nother disaster".
Best wishes, Clive
I tend to see this as one of those 'errors' that educated people sometimes adopt in a joking and ironic kind of way, and perhaps to make their speech seem a little more 'folksy'. If there was a terrible disaster, followed by another terrible disaster, I doubt that such people would say "that's a whole 'nother disaster".
Best wishes, Clive
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