Hi
The proverb is:
Two and two makes four.
What if I write “make four”? Will it be considered incorrect?
Thanks in advance
Tom
Hi
The proverb is:
Two and two makes four.
What if I write “make four”? Will it be considered incorrect?
Thanks in advance
Tom
.
Yes, but this is not a proverb, to my knowledge, it is just a well-worn truism.
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Dear Mr. Micawber
Could you please tell me what well known truisms are? When and how are they used?
Thanks in advance
Tom
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Well-worn, not well-known. This is not a linguistic term; it is part of my conversation about language. Proverbs are traditional sayings that provide advice: forewarned is forearmed; a stitch in time saves nine.
Two and two make(s) four, however, tells us nothing; it is a boring, obvious truth, like
Six of one and half a dozen of the other or That’s what you get. They are little conversation fillers, sociolinguistic devices to grease the wheels of communication. They are also called cliches, bromides, set phrases, etc.
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