0
Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Quick straw poll: wharves or wharfs?
I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, I realised that my mind's ear is hearing "wharfs".
Burchfield ( New Fowler's ) and Collins list both forms, with no comment as to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference.
Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
Burchfield ( New Fowler's ) and Collins list both forms, with no comment as to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference.
Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
Top answer
Harvey Van Sickle (Email Removed) wrote on 06 Jan 2004: [nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference.
- Harvey Van Sickle (Email Removed) wrote on 06 Jan 2004: [nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves".
- Thinking of it, though, ...
- to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference.
- Which would you use?
- [/nq] AHD4 also lists both forms but prefers "wharves", as you can see from the **3 definition of the transitive verb "to wharf" quoted below.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
40 Answers
0
Harvey Van Sickle (Email Removed) wrote on 06 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference. Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
AHD4 also lists both forms but prefers "wharves", as you can see from the **3 defin
[nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference. Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
AHD4 also lists both forms but prefers "wharves", as you can see from the **3 defin
00
Thus spake Harvey Van Sickle:
[nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference. Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
I would use "dwarfs". I mean "wharfs".
I'm still upset about that dwar-fish sword.
Simon R. Hugh
[nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference. Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
I would use "dwarfs". I mean "wharfs".
I'm still upset about that dwar-fish sword.
Simon R. Hugh
00
[nq:2]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my ... Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
[nq:1]AHD4 also lists both forms but prefers "wharves", as you can see from the **3 definition of the transitive verb ... things that I've read, talked, or thought much about, so "wharves" seems a bit strange and perhaps archaic to me.[/nq]
I'm for "wharves"; and "hoove
[nq:1]AHD4 also lists both forms but prefers "wharves", as you can see from the **3 definition of the transitive verb ... things that I've read, talked, or thought much about, so "wharves" seems a bit strange and perhaps archaic to me.[/nq]
I'm for "wharves"; and "hoove
00
[nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... ) and Collins list both forms, with no comment as to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference. Which would you use?[/nq]
wharves
[nq:1]Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
"Wharfs" seems a little odd to me, but apparently it's okay.
wharves
[nq:1]Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
"Wharfs" seems a little odd to me, but apparently it's okay.
00
[nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference. Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
Wharfs.
*
Jai Maharaj
http://ww
Wharfs.
*
English is Munglish
*Jai Maharaj
http://ww
00
[nq:1]Which would you use?[/nq]
'Wharves'.
[nq:1]Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
No.
I was born in 1978 and have lived stateside all my life.
Michael Hamm Since mid-September of 2003, AM, Math, Wash. U. St. Louis I've been erasing too much UBE. (Email Removed) Of a reply, then, if you have been cheated,
'Wharves'.
[nq:1]Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
No.
I was born in 1978 and have lived stateside all my life.
Michael Hamm Since mid-September of 2003, AM, Math, Wash. U. St. Louis I've been erasing too much UBE. (Email Removed) Of a reply, then, if you have been cheated,
00
[nq:2]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my ... Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
[nq:1]Wharfs. *
If you'd prefer to take your advice from a bunch of lexicographers rather than someone who thinks English has no rules, run "wharves" through onelook.com and check the results. I think you'll find that "wharves" is t
[nq:1]Wharfs. *
English is Munglish
*[/nq]If you'd prefer to take your advice from a bunch of lexicographers rather than someone who thinks English has no rules, run "wharves" through onelook.com and check the results. I think you'll find that "wharves" is t
00
"Wharfs" sounds good. Eng . . . er . . . Munglish is about usage, not some Net ****'s rules.
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti
00
[nq:1]I have to use the plural for wharf, and my gut reaction was to use "wharves". Thinking of it, though, ... to acceptability, frequency or pondial preference. Which would you use? Is either form likely to seem archaic, precious, or illiterate?[/nq]
I still can't make my mind up about rooves and hooves! I lean towards wharves, but I might well come out with wharfs at any given moment.
I still can't make my mind up about rooves and hooves! I lean towards wharves, but I might well come out with wharfs at any given moment.
00
Related Questions