atw: Re: SEC: UNCLASS RE: US/Aus English

Also Bob (T),

Our wind and rain-swept central North American colleagues
tend to use "may" where one should probably use "might".

Something that has been catching on here in the media.

Rather, "may" implies that permission is being granted for
the act or operation in question to occur, where "might"
implies the possibility of lilelihood of its occurence.

For example, in terms of a May / Might substitution
commonly observed and heard on ABC TV.

May example:
The following program <has permission to> contain language
which (should have been "that") <has permission to> offend
some viewers.

Might example:
The following program <is likely to> contain language
which (should have been "that") <could possibly> offend
some viewers.

More often than not, "Might" is right yet "May" has its way.

Why, I do not know, apart from the influence of saturation
US sourced and centric programming in our local television
schedules.

HTH.

Michael

--
Michael Granat
Write Ideas*
Carnegie, Victoria, Australia.
E-mail:         writeideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web:            www.writeideas.com.au

*Trading As business #0828673K
Registered (1987) Corporate Affairs Victoria

Plain English Technical Communication.
Advertising Copywriting.
Business Writing.
Web & Direct Marketing Content Writing.

E&OE - Errors & Omissions Excepted



----- Message from Bob Trussler ---------
atw: Re: US/Aus English [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
From: Bob.Trussler@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 11:58:03 +1000

I agree with Bede.
There is also different usage for THAT and WHICH.
I don't remember the details right now.  It is not the opposite of our
usage, and it can stop them in their tracks.
_____________
Bob Trussler

----- End message from Bob Trussler -----


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