The case for: sometimes you need to be clear about whether you're talking to a particular you or the whole group. Getting it wrong might end up with pints being spilled.
The candidates:
* Yous - simply apply the usual rules of English to construct our new plural. Probably lots of votes from Scotland and the North of England. Anywhere else?
* Y'all - contraction of "you all" as popularised by various Americans.
* Verily thou dost jest? "You" *is* the plural form of "thou". What *do* they teach kids in school these days?
The case against: there are haters for all of them. And who asked for English to change (again) anyway? And isn't it good to have a bar fight over a misunderstanding every so often to keep our national fighting ability up?
Aaaaand.... go |
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"Youse is common in Australia.
I don't think it's necessary, but at least it's better than the current culture wars"
Clearly there has to be an argument on how one should spell yous/youse/use as well... |
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"Youse is common in Australia.
I don't think it's necessary, but at least it's better than the current culture wars
Clearly there has to be an argument on how one should spell yous/youse/use as well..."
Sure. In Australian English it's already decided, but that's got no bearing on other dialects. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'm OK with yous, but I know my audience. I'd only use it with people I know well and who are Scottish. Sometimes saying you when you're speaking to the whole group sounds aggressive. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Although I use you’s as you said in the opening post usual rule of thumb regarding S but I guess there is no plural, I’d would just have to simply be put as you and then required number of people x |
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