A reply to Logomach

Authors: Wallace NM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 12, pp 218, Dec 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: General
Subject Terms: Education/communication
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: The letter extracted from the Veterinary Record which appears on viii “News and Views” under “Comment” in the October issue of the organ of the NZVA re pleonasm, under the heading “VerbalTics” indicates that the writer, “Logomach” has become infected. “…the entire body”, “…an almost exact analogy”, “…quite useless” are early signs of his unfortunate condition. However, I write to draw readers` attention to his straining at the gnats of his verbal tics while happily swallowing the camel (or endoscope) of the problem of number. “A total of 127 endoscopic examinations was carried out… “ is preferred, although H. W. Fowler does state “Nouns of multitude as army…, number… may stand either for a single entity or for those individuals who compose it, and are. . treated as singular or plural at discretion, and sometimes, naturally, without discretion”. “A total was. . .” or “A total were...”? As I have heard said, some time ago “`Pew too, Logomach”. For those of you who are interested in the gnats, I give you…

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