INGs

[Arnold Zwicky]

On Jan 13, 2009, at 11:12 AM, Wilson Gray wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: INGs
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've heard this phrase all of my life. If ever I had occasion to write
> it, I would use "to-ing and fro-ing."
>
> Is there a similar problem with backing and filling, ripping and
> running, slipping and sliding, peeping and hiding, and other such?

see my posting here of 11/29/08 on "back and forth" (also "back and
fill").

"slip and sliding" is certainly attested.  i haven't checked on the
others.

arnold

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org