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

Egroeg

Member Since

September 20, 2011

Total number of comments

2

Total number of votes received

0

Bio

Latest Comments

“for long”

  • September 20, 2011, 4:53am

Little mistake there!
Cf. rather than c.f.!

“for long”

  • September 20, 2011, 4:51am

This doesn't really explain it, but I think it may add some thoughts to the ring:

I was there for a while. _c.f._ I was there for long.
I won't be there for a while. _c.f._ I won't be there for long.

In this case while works in both cases. But has quite different meanings. In the first it suggests you were in the place for a long time. In the second it suggests you will not be in that place until a time a while away. Strange hey?