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From: Loki Harfagr <l0k1@thedarkdesign.free.fr.INVALID>
Subject: Re: "off" or "of" when listing quantities.
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Date: 14 Nov 2008 10:44:55 GMT
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Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:19:33 -0800, gustavfenk did cat :
> On Nov 13, 3:08 pm, Loki Harfagr <l...@thedarkdesign.free.fr.INVALID>
> wrote:
>> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:53:06 -0800, gustavfenk did cat :
>>
>> > Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
>> > quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong.
>>
>> it really depends...
>> "thumballyruled" it'd go "may use 'off' when the material can be
>> 'partialized" for instance as "a slice off ham" Vs "a piece of mind"
>> ;-)
>>
>> > For example
>> > -
>>
>> > "Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
>>
>> > shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
>> > (those)" ?
>>
>> there, I think we're missing the context, I'd believe in your example
>> the 'off' is related to the price of the stuff, like `` 6" widgets -
>> SALE - 4 quid price reduction til Monday ''
>>
>> now, I may well be wrong and I'm sure some other posters will
>> help to complete and/or correct this :-)
>
> The main areas where "off" seems to be used (or misused?) are the
> engineering / building trades. An example is the table on this website,
> listing the contents of a box of o-rings -
>
> http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p60122/Metric+O+Ring+Seal+Kit+404+Piece/product_info.html
OK, then the first idea was the correct one, it is like saying
"n pieces from the 'model-desc.'s (box|case|drawer|bag)"
"12 pieces off the 32 by 3 box"
"12 off 32x3" (ellipse on "the box")
it is indeed correct, probably now quite specialized or a bit out of date
(some would probably say pedantic or brittish instead ;-)
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