Re: Intro G: Where is the FAQ? (Question for datere)

Lewis wrote:

In message <47fc7cc9$0$7086$91cee783@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Leslie <leslie.danks@xxxxxx> wrote:

[....]

You're missing the point with your examples, which do not present an
analogous situation. Even if you say "Where is the eff ay queue?", or
even "Where is the fak?", you wouldn't say "Where is the frequently asked
questions?"

No, you wouldn't; the FAQ is a collective singular. The Frequently Asked
Questions are simply plural.

What you ought to say is "Where is the eff ay queue?" - meaning "Where is
the frequently asked question?" -, or "Where are the eff ay queues?" -
meaning "Where are the frequently asked questions?"

No, that's silly.

If you look at an authoritative source of modern English usage - Google, for
example - you will find every possible variation on this theme. My
favourite is "Where is the FAQ's?" My own feeling is that FAQ has not been
completely absorbed into the language as a collective singular because many
people still expand it automatically and no-one with any feeling for
language can stomach the result. Give it time, though; all those flies
can't be wrong.

--
Les
.

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