Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 11:57:19 -0700

From: "Joseph B. Monda" monda[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SEATTLEU.EDU

Subject: Re: as it were



I believe it's the REAL Mc Coy.

Joseph B. Monda email: monda[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]seattleu.edu

smail: English Department Seattle University

Seattle WA 98122 (206) 296-5425







On Tue, 10 Oct 1995, Kathleen M. O'Neill wrote:



I believe it's NEAL McCoy. :-)



--Kate



I have heard the phrase, "as it were," such as, "The ball was round, as it

were." The question I have, though, stems from the use of the plural

past tense "were." If it were to be "grammatically" correct, would that

not be "as it was"? Or is this a regional type of thing? Just a thought!



if i were you, i'd check out "subjunctive mood" in a handbook of

english. then again, when i look it up in _the modern writer's

handbook_, i see, "the subjunctive mood is falling into disuse." witness

dilbert mccoy's current hit (country song), "if i was a drinkin' man."



sylvia swift

madonna[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]violet.berkeley.edu