Captured Same

[Garson O'Toole]

Below is a shortened link that points to the entry on "The use of same
as a pronoun" in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. It may
be useful for readers who wish to see the Shakespeare example and the
other 10 examples.  Hope it works for you:

http://bit.ly/cml5qd
Garson

Neal Whitman wrote
> I was reminded of something else I should have done before posting, when I
> read Rick Barr's message. After quoting Brian Garner, he continues:
>
>> And here's the more latitudinarian MWEU:
>> http://books.google.com/books?id=3D2yJusP0vrdgC&lpg=3DPP1&dq=3Dmerriam%20we=
>> bster's%20usage&pg=3DPA825#v=3Donepage&q&f=3Dfalse
>
> I was unable to open this link, but it reminded me that I should have
> checked MWDEU myself. For others who can't open the link, here's what it
> says:
>
> "The use of 'same' as a pronoun, often with 'the', has attracted criticism
> from many commentators, dating back to Vizetelly 1906. The use of 'same' as
> a substitute for 'it, this, that,' and 'them' is typically described as
> unliterary business jargon, if not as an out-and-out error. But a look at
> the long history and current use of the pronoun 'same' shows clearly that
> the judgment of the critics is undeservedly harsh. 'Same' has been in
> continuous use as a pronoun since the 14th century. It was well known to the
> Shakespearean businessman:
> [Shakespeare example]
>
> "But its use has never been limited to the world of business. Here are some
> further examples, old and new, to counter the dismissal of pronominal 'same'
> as mere jargon:
> [10 examples]
>
> "The pronoun 'same' may sound wooden in an awkwardly written business
> letter, but in the hands of a competent writer it is often simply a mark of
> an informal style."
>
> Neal

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