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AIBU?

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I just used the word 'hence' in an email

499 replies

GoodGirlFaith · 10/09/2026 15:21

AIBU to want to punch the air?

Pray tell me your favourite olden day words.

OP posts:
CrazyMidget · 18/09/2026 03:02

PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2026 02:46

The clerk stared at Drumknott and looked askance at Moist, as Lord Vetinari himself stood up in surprise leaving Moist impaled between two askances

My favourite quote from Raising Steam.

I once read a TP novel 33 years ago, and not since. But I knew that was him, and I was right!

CrazyMidget · 18/09/2026 03:01

eggandonion · 17/09/2026 23:20

Log books were definitely used by my kids in Ireland at school in the 2010s. They had the same weird print as the one I had in the last century in NI. Predated the border , all Ireland torture! I have no idea how they worked. I followed rules drummed into me by my maths teacher.
Back to topic...I saw a gentleman wearing a cravat earlier and mentioned to my husband that he looked natty.

Excellent!

CrazyMidget · 18/09/2026 03:00

SoManySliders · 17/09/2026 21:32

Apropos to

Isn’t it “apropos of”?

CrazyMidget · 18/09/2026 02:58

McT123 · 10/09/2026 15:29

Pedants' Corner.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2026 02:46

Warmlight1 · 18/09/2026 00:53

To look askance....

The clerk stared at Drumknott and looked askance at Moist, as Lord Vetinari himself stood up in surprise leaving Moist impaled between two askances

My favourite quote from Raising Steam.

Warmlight1 · 18/09/2026 00:53

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 23:23

I think most of it is by calculator, though dc had formulae book for maths. They looked askance at my chemistry data book but didn't take it further than gcse so not sure what's in use for a-levels.

To look askance....

Ablushingcrow · 17/09/2026 23:48

TellingBone · 10/09/2026 22:17

Along with 'myrmidon' I am doing my utmost to repopularise 'rapscallion'.

I call my lovely border collie 'my little rapscallion'. I love that word.

Ablushingcrow · 17/09/2026 23:39

Oooh I love this thread. My DH asked the other day how much milk was left, I said there was a titty-nope left. He kindly asked what the fuck was I talking about. The heathen.

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 23:23

Toomanyskittles · 17/09/2026 22:08

Are log books (well, formulae and tables books strictly speaking) no longer used in UK exams? I’m getting confused seeing the comments here 🤔
They’re still used where I am (Ireland).

I think most of it is by calculator, though dc had formulae book for maths. They looked askance at my chemistry data book but didn't take it further than gcse so not sure what's in use for a-levels.

eggandonion · 17/09/2026 23:20

Log books were definitely used by my kids in Ireland at school in the 2010s. They had the same weird print as the one I had in the last century in NI. Predated the border , all Ireland torture! I have no idea how they worked. I followed rules drummed into me by my maths teacher.
Back to topic...I saw a gentleman wearing a cravat earlier and mentioned to my husband that he looked natty.

Toomanyskittles · 17/09/2026 22:08

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 21:49

I don't think I'd remember how to use a slide rule now. We had lessons on it in maths then programmeable calculators came in.
Also had data books for maths & chemistry which we were allowed to use in exams.

Are log books (well, formulae and tables books strictly speaking) no longer used in UK exams? I’m getting confused seeing the comments here 🤔
They’re still used where I am (Ireland).

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 21:53

Warmlight1 · 12/09/2026 13:48

Never heard orthogonal! I've looked it up and will try to use it this week!

Orthogonal is a little inscrutable.

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 21:49

eggandonion · 12/09/2026 12:49

I had a slide rule. It was amazing. We had to write SR at the end of a calculation when we used it.
That's definitely olden days maths.

I don't think I'd remember how to use a slide rule now. We had lessons on it in maths then programmeable calculators came in.
Also had data books for maths & chemistry which we were allowed to use in exams.

Bunniemalone · 17/09/2026 21:40

Contemporaneously is a favourite. Outwith, only discovered when started working with a Scottish team & I have adopted it 😊 Therefore & albeit are regulars, as is moot.

SoManySliders · 17/09/2026 21:32

Apropos to

Campanulaceae · 17/09/2026 21:31

I wrote a letter the other day:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Blah blah blah stuff etc.

Yours faithfully,

Campanulaceae

moderate · 17/09/2026 21:25

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 20:36

Whose welcome?

The trouble is, does someone who fails to differentiate the one, understand the pithiness of the other?

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 20:36

ClairDeLaLune · 10/09/2026 16:34

*Pedants’ Corner 😄

Your welcome 🤣🤣

Whose welcome?

quantumbutterfly · 17/09/2026 20:15

McT123 · 10/09/2026 15:29

Pedants' Corner.

Just the one pedant?

JudgeJ · 17/09/2026 20:12

eggandonion · 12/09/2026 12:49

I had a slide rule. It was amazing. We had to write SR at the end of a calculation when we used it.
That's definitely olden days maths.

I wonder if you used log tables too!!

JudgeJ · 17/09/2026 20:08

Cadeaukatze · 13/09/2026 12:11

I was thinking the same - I hadn't heard it in the context of being tired, only pregnant!

Before alarm clocks were common many poorer areas would have a knocker upper, a man who went round the streets with a long pole tapping on the bedroom window, yet another meaning of knock up!

lcakethereforeIam · 13/09/2026 18:43

I used 'nebulous' in an email once.

Aintgointogoa · 13/09/2026 12:34

Great thread.....when I get to use the word 'dichotomy' in the right context. That's an elbow pump right there. Not that I get much opportunity !

Cadeaukatze · 13/09/2026 12:11

QuietlyWonderful · 12/09/2026 16:41

"Knocked up" must be used with care. Round my way, it means pregnant - or should that be 'got with child'?

I was thinking the same - I hadn't heard it in the context of being tired, only pregnant!

MyThreeWords · 13/09/2026 08:36

Ooh, yes, prithee. That would be an EXCELLENT word to put in a work email. So many work messages are requests to do this or that, it could really take off.

Prithee action point 2 of the meeting minutes.

I remain, indebtedly, your line manager, Keith from accounts.

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