Date:  Tue, 10 Oct 1995 00:05:47 -0700

From:  Sylvia Swift <madonna[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]VIOLET.BERKELEY.EDU>

Subject: as it were



> 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