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From: Tony Xenos and company <ax823092@oak.cats.ohiou.edu>
Subject: Re: Brit/Am English styles
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Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 17:06:55 GMT
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On Fri, 28 Jun 1996, Hugh_P_Scott wrote:

> I would interpret 'A quarter OFF eight' as 7:45 if the context is time, a 
> quarter of eight would not be at all obvious.

Idioms are rarely obvious.  It IS common usage in parts of the US, and
widely understood in areas where it is less frequent to say of to indicate
a number of minutes before the hour.

Ten of five. A quarter of nine.

We don't care that it makes no sense: it adds character to our speech.

--
Tony Xenos                                                     Craig A. Butz
10 Hocking Street                                          2498 Mineral Road
Athens, Ohio 45701                           New Marshfield, Ohio 45766-9747
614.593.8746                                                    614.664.6401

