Pain in the English
Pain in the English

Unpacking English, Bit by Bit

A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.

Pain in the English
Pain in the English

Unpacking English, Bit by Bit

A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.

Username

dbsh

Member Since

November 3, 2010

Total number of comments

1

Total number of votes received

2

Bio

Latest Comments

As If vs. As Though

  • November 3, 2010, 5:17am

Dictionary of Problem Words & Expressions (Harry Shaw) says "as if" and "as though" are pretty much interchangeable. Years ago I read in an English usage book that "as if" is preferred for this reason: "She ran out of the house as (she WOULD run) if her hair was on fire" As though doesn't make sense this way. "...though her hair was on fire"? But her hair was not REALLY on fire. Nevertheless, one is used interchangeably with the other.