Ever wish people wouldn't use "the former" and "the latter?"

[raccoon]

Because by the end of the sentence you have to go back to see what the former" and "the latter" are referring to.

[Bake]

1. I formerly did.

In the latter days, not so much.

Bake

[MiddleFingerMom]

2. My former SO insisted on doing that...

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...so I latter.
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:hide:
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[raccoon]

3. Oh, no! nt

[geardaddy]

4. In speech yes, but in text no.

[El Supremo]

5. What would you suggest using instead?

[struggle4progress]

6. "Gee" and "haw" are easy to pronounce

[Kali]

11. !

I JUST cleaned my keyboard you bastid!

:spray: :rofl:

[geardaddy]

12. This needs to go into the Chicago Manual of Style.

I approve.

[geardaddy]

13. If you had the choice of learning the bass or learning the bagpipes...

would you prefer the gee or the haw?

[kentauros]

7. Are you telling us that your short-term memory is that bad?

;)

[raccoon]

8. How's that again? nt

[kentauros]

9. This or that.

Former or latter.

:P

[Glorfindel]

10. Not really. I rather like the terms...

A poem I memorized in 4th grade:

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL

The mountain and the squirrel

Had a quarrel,

And the former called the latter

“Little prig.”

Bun replied,

“You are doubtless very big;

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together

To make up a year

And a sphere.

And I think it no disgrace

To occupy my place.

If I'm not so large as you,

You are not so small as I,

And not half so spry:

I'll not deny you make

A very pretty squirrel track.

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;

If I cannot carry forests on my back,

Neither can you crack a nut."



Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Call Me Wesley]

14. The former I go,

the latter I'm home for dinner. It sucks.

[struggle4progress]

15. Then ya cudn't say: "The former falled off his latter whilst fixin the roove off his chikin coup"

[dimbear]

16. You'd like the French way better.

Celui ci; celui la.

This one here; that one there.

:)

[Deep13]

17. Nope. Never. nt