End of ADS-L Digest - 23 May 1996 to 24 May 1996

************************************************





There are 12 messages totalling 288 lines in this issue.



Topics of the day:



 1. I was about to say

 2. "took a shine to" (6)

 3. inservice v.t. (2)

 4. "I was about to say"

 5. "took a shine to" [To take a shine to . . .]

 6. (in)service, v.t.



----------------------------------------------------------------------



Date:  Sat, 25 May 1996 08:19:42 EDT

From:  Orin Hargraves <100422.2566[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]COMPUSERVE.COM>

Subject: Re: I was about to say



My experience is that the far more common form of this in conversation is "I was

gonna say". Some speakers overuse it to the point that it is more a filler than

a marker, but I think it has all the uses that Suzanne and Kathleen pointed out.

With reference to Kathleen's interpretation specifically, viz., that it is used

to clarify a misleading statement: overusers of the phrase are often those who

are unable to let ANY statement go unchallenged, or in other words, those who

must add their two cents to every thought expressed!



Orin Hargraves