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The correct use of "vs" (versus)



 
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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
meaning of "That’s all there is." | Having problem with the comma
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:43 am  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Hi

As far as my little knowledge is concerned "vs" or "versus" is used between two choices, correct? For example.

"Listen for" vs "Listen to"

...but if I also want to include the third one, say, "listen into", how would I?

How does the following seem to you?

"Listen for" vs "Listen to" vs "Listen into"

Tom
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Fri Jan 12, 2007 13:11 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Hi Tom

First I'd like to know why you want to include listen into in your comparison.
Or did you just pick a random preposition to add to the verb listen?

I'd say you might occasionally see vs used when comparing more than two things, but the usage is generally limited to a comparison of two things.

Amy
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Fri Jan 12, 2007 13:41 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Amy wrote:
First I'd like to know why you want to include listen into in your comparison.

Good morning, Amy! I am sure you got up at 6 am! Very Happy

Don't we listen into people's gossips, Amy?

Tom

How is coffee in the USA? Wink
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Fri Jan 12, 2007 14:05 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Morning, Tom

No, I got up at 5:30. Laughing And the coffee at this house is quite similar to the coffee in Germany (i.e. stronger that the typical American java). Laughing

I'm sure "listen into" may be used sometimes, but I'd be more comfortable with either "listen in" or "listen in on".

By the way, gossips (i.e. the plural form of the noun) would refer to people who gossip -- and not to what the gossips are talking about.

Amy
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Fri Jan 12, 2007 14:25 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Tom wrote:
How is coffee in the USA? Wink

Surprisingly (don't take this the wrong way), McDonald's have quite good coffee -- I enjoy their ice cream topped (hot) coffee. But I was very disappointed when, many years ago, they stopped serving milkshakes in most of (or perhaps all?) their Madrid restaurants -- I still miss them. Maybe they're not popular enough here.
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Fri Jan 12, 2007 16:14 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Yankee wrote:
the typical American java). Laughing

The term 'java' for 'coffee' is interesting. Does it have anything to do with some kind of juice? Smile It's just that I was thinking of the French term for 'weak coffee': 'jus de chaussettes' (lit. 'sock juice!').
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Fri Jan 12, 2007 18:26 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Hi Conchita

I didn't know that Micky D's had ever had coffee with ice cream on the menu. Maybe that was something special in Spain? I have to admit, though, I'm not a fan of McDonald's. Any time I've ever had anything to eat there I've ended up with heartburn. I don't know whether their food is better nowadays or not, but my early experiences with McDonald's food were more than enough to frighten me off forever.

"Sock juice"?!?!? That's hilarious. Laughing

Yes, "java" is used informally (in the US) as a synonym for coffee.
But, I guess the term "java" simply came from the coffee grown on the island of Java. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_coffee

Amy
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:35 am  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Yankee wrote:
Morning, Tom

By the way, gossips (i.e. the plural form of the noun) would refer to people who gossip -- and not to what the gossips are talking about.

Amy

is it?! i remember hearing the "gossipper". Does gossip (the one they're talking about) have a plural?
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Sat Jan 13, 2007 13:44 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

Hi Cornelius

Yes, you can ALSO refer to a person who gossips as a "gossiper".
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=gossip&r=66

As to the person who is the subject of gossip... Hmm, perhaps "fodder/grist for the gossip mill".

Amy
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The correct use of "vs" (versus) Tue Jan 16, 2007 22:14 pm  The correct use of "vs" (versus)
 

let's coin a new term, Amy:

gossip-fodder

"Being the gossip-fodder for those gossipers (or gossips) really sucks!"
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