Date:  Wed, 4 Oct 1995 07:04:45 -0500

From:  Natalie Maynor <maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]RA.MSSTATE.EDU>

Subject: Re: Lexical choice?



>         Today I have to do the ______________________

>

> (meaning a pile of dirty clothes that should become clean with water & soap in

> a machine)



If we're to fill in the blank only, without changing anything else in

the sentence, I can't answer. I would never say "do the" if I meant

wash clothes. I'd say "Today I have to wash clothes."

  --Natalie (maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ra.msstate.edu)