Caption on a nature site: "Ruby-_Throat_ Hummingbird"

[Tom Zurinskas]

In the following sentence the word, "since," means "because".

"This example is unclear, since it could be a reinterpretation..."


I use "since" like this all the time but was told I was incorrect and should use "because".  What do you think?  I've wondered about it ever since.




PS.  It's nice to be getting ads-l emails again.

Tom Zurinskas, Conn 20 yrs, Tenn 3, NJ 33, now Fl 9.
See how English spelling links to sounds at http://justpaste.it/ayk





> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster: Arnold Zwicky <zwicky at STANFORD.EDU>
> Subject: Re: Caption on a nature site: "Ruby-_Throat_ Hummingbird"
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On Jul 7, 2012, at 6:22 PM, Herb Stahlke wrote:
> >
> > I've been surprised recently about how the ice cream phenomenon is
> > spreading. A local restaurant has a sign "Experience breakfast cook
> > needed."
>
> the phenomenon has been very widespread for a long time. aren't you just saying here that this is one example you don't recall having seen before?
>
> > On Sat, Jul 7, 2012 at 7:37 PM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> >> Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> >> Poster: Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
> >> Subject: Caption on a nature site: "Ruby-_Throat_ Hummingbird"
> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Till now, I'd been under the impression that the hummingbird was
> >> called "ruby-throat_ed_."
>
> this example is unclear, since it could be a reinterpretation, as 'hummingbird with a ruby throat'.
>
> arnold
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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