MPG's??? (Language)

[Spumonti]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

Well, seems like you're picking on one instance. I'm in agreement with you, particularly in the way "texting speak" has become accepted as a way to communicate online. b4 gr8 prolly etc. Hogwash, I say. The bastardization of the language is seen by many as kewl. My grammar isn't great, and it's been a very long time since I studied sentence structure. I'm sure that shows.

English is, however, a living language. It will continue to change and mutate. And, what most of use do online is use kinda conversational text. It's a different animal than what you'd use if you were writing a business letter or proposal. However, I will resist nonsensical abbreviations which are popping up everywhere on the interwebs. My resistance, however futile, is to not use them myself.

BTW, JMHO. (intentional, some things have been around so long, even I use them. )

I should have said what the catalyst for my post was. I don't mind so much about the use of these lazy phrases in type, it's when Ford is SAYING it in their commercial for the Fusion Hybrid. There are other instances where I've heard it on TV or radio, I just can't remember the specifics... I completely understand the use of abbreviation in typing or texting, for the sake of time constraints, but to speak that way is an atrocity IMHO...

[forestacademy]

One word. Autotext.

Microsoft for years has allowed you to use a feature called autotext. You type in an abbreviation such as IMHO and out pops In My Humble Opinion. It allows you to type the shortcuts and still have all the words come out.
I used to use it 10 years ago to type in a part number and the full description would pop out.

[Spumonti]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

One word. Autotext.

Microsoft for years has allowed you to use a feature called autotext. You type in an abbreviation such as IMHO and out pops In My Humble Opinion. It allows you to type the shortcuts and still have all the words come out.
I used to use it 10 years ago to type in a part number and the full description would pop out.

I think that if I heard someone actually say IMHO, I would throw up! Then I would probably ask them to pay for the lunch they just made me waste!

[fastturb]

If my mpg is 44 and Mr. X has a mpg of 47, our MPG's are 44 and 47. What's the problem? My pet peeve is people always using "so" to start a sentence even in writing.

[Spumonti]

Originally Posted by fastturb

If my mpg is 44 and Mr. X has a mpg of 47, our MPG's are 44 and 47. What's the problem? My pet peeve is people always using "so" to start a sentence even in writing.

To be correct I think you would say "our MPG ratings are 44 and 47." So, that's the way I'm seeing it...

[sunnyokanagan]

No matter how many MPGs your car gets, mine is better than your's. LOLing out loud

[jetfuel]

..it is miles per gallon...miles traveled using one gallon of gas...if you used 2 gallonS to go the same distance you need to take your car to the garage for a check up..

jetfuel...English as a second language.

[jimvw57]

I would think
MPG RATING is an estimate or range of what you could expect to get. To my knowledge, there is only one rating for a motor,trans, car combination. Since the fortwo only has one such cobination, there only exsists one rating 38-42mpg. This is to be used as a comparison when measuring cars for comparison shopping. It is a sales tool and thats it. Once a car is purchased, it now has the ability to generate it's own MPG numbers and that should be used (unless the seller is a jerk and the car gets worse mileage than the ratings)

Your actual MPG number isn't a rating but a result from the miles per gallon formula, thus a number and since there can be multiple formulas, multiple numbers, which makes the plural "MPG'S" possible.

The only realistic MPG number is an average taken over multiple tanks to show various driving conditions and weather variables.

It's easy to get 50+mpg driving on a windless flat area at 40 miles per hour with no stops or turns and the speed never changes. Say on the salt flats....

[TMACK]

My God, we do have a counselor amonst us!

Good point, that there are differing MPG scenarios, that everyday driving and salt lake record runs are two "MPG's".

Say, you don't happen to know anything about lemon laws, do you?

[jimvw57]

Lemons have their own laws?? does it cover lemonade or is that a different section?? What about Hard Lemonade?? I don't know any lemon lawers or any lemon courts......I know, it is all kind of fruity....

You caught me in a rare serious moment earlier.