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Rotter Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Ring on the changes or ring the changes
The result means that Sunday's match between India and West Indies becomes a semi-final, but more importantly, it means that West Indies have managed to inject some much-needed pride into a tour that has gone horribly wrong from the start.
After two disastrous Test matches and a couple of below-par performances in the tri-series so far, few would have given them a semblance of a chance against tournament favourites Sri Lanka. West Indies needed to ring the changes and quickly, if they were to put up a fight. And change they did.
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I have learnt to say ring the changes on something.
The company ought to ring the changes on their products to be competitive.
Would you write 'the company ought to ring the changes as soon as possible' ?
In the above, you will read the words ring the changes. Is it correct?
After two disastrous Test matches and a couple of below-par performances in the tri-series so far, few would have given them a semblance of a chance against tournament favourites Sri Lanka. West Indies needed to ring the changes and quickly, if they were to put up a fight. And change they did.
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I have learnt to say ring the changes on something.
The company ought to ring the changes on their products to be competitive.
Would you write 'the company ought to ring the changes as soon as possible' ?
In the above, you will read the words ring the changes. Is it correct?
Top answer
Hi, I'd just say 'ring the changes', 'on something' sounds wrong to me. I think it derives from ringing (church) bells. Best wishes, Clive
- Hi, I'd just say 'ring the changes', 'on something' sounds wrong to me.
- I think it derives from ringing (church) bells.
- Best wishes, Clive
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5 Answers
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Hi,
I'd just say 'ring the changes', 'on something' sounds wrong to me.
I think it derives from ringing (church) bells.
Best wishes, Clive
I'd just say 'ring the changes', 'on something' sounds wrong to me.
I think it derives from ringing (church) bells.
Best wishes, Clive
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Hello Rotter
As you probably know, 'to ring the changes' derives from bell-ringing. The bells are rung in sequences (changes); each bell must be rung only once in the sequence. To form the next sequence, one bell is moved ('changed') to a new position in the ringing order.
If you have three bells, for instance, this would be one possible set of changes:
123
132
As you probably know, 'to ring the changes' derives from bell-ringing. The bells are rung in sequences (changes); each bell must be rung only once in the sequence. To form the next sequence, one bell is moved ('changed') to a new position in the ringing order.
If you have three bells, for instance, this would be one possible set of changes:
123
132
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I thank both of you for the replies
Mr Pedantic, would you agree that the original article on cricket is incorrect? I mean just to say ring the changes is not correct.
Mr Pedantic, would you agree that the original article on cricket is incorrect? I mean just to say ring the changes is not correct.
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Hello Rotter
In a cricketing context, you might experiment with the batting order, over a series of games. That might be a suitable use of 'ringing the changes' (e.g. 'ring the changes on the batting order').
But if the journalist simply means 'make some changes', or 'do something different', the metaphor isn't entirely appropriate. There has to be a possible sense of 'trying ou
In a cricketing context, you might experiment with the batting order, over a series of games. That might be a suitable use of 'ringing the changes' (e.g. 'ring the changes on the batting order').
But if the journalist simply means 'make some changes', or 'do something different', the metaphor isn't entirely appropriate. There has to be a possible sense of 'trying ou
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Mr Pedantic
To say ring the changes on the batting order is 100% correct. It seems you know cricket. Many of our American frinds don't know the nitty-gritty of cricket.
To say ring the changes on the batting order is 100% correct. It seems you know cricket. Many of our American frinds don't know the nitty-gritty of cricket.
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