Guild Wars 2

I just finished reading Rob Thody’s news article about <a href=“https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/introducing-the-wallet/”>the wallet</a> and had to cringe when I saw the word “amongst” used in the text. No offense to Rob here, I’m nitpicking on the word itself.

I’m definitely not a grammarista, but didn’t “amongst” go out of style, I don’t know… many years ago? I thought the word was only a pompous version of “among”. Truly, is there any difference between among and amongst (other than the latter is not used in every day conversation)?

I hate the word “amongst” so much that I refuse to wear the “God walking…” title.

I was wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

I use it quite often, and proudly wear the moniker grammar-brat. Lol. Then again, I am elderly, so that may be the reason. ; )

I’m not elderly. I don’t use it that much because I rarely require it in a sentence but what other word would you have used? Among doesn’t quite sound right to me.

I like it and I also use gwamm title.

Reads fine to me.

I like ‘amongst’. It has a ye olde flavor to it :-P

I only really use it if I’m writing a story though, and if it flows with the sentence. If I’m talking or writing dialog…well, no one ever says ‘amongst’ anymore.

Johnny Ringo: [Ringo steps up to Doc] And you must be Doc Holliday.

Doc Holliday: That’s the rumor.

Johnny Ringo: You retired too?

Doc Holliday: Not me. I’m in my prime.

Johnny Ringo: Yeah, you look it.

Doc Holliday: And you must be Ringo. Look, darling, Johnny Ringo. The deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darling? Should I hate him?

Kate: You don’t even know him.

Doc Holliday: Yes, but there’s just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don’t know, reminds me of… me. No. I’m sure of it, I hate him.

Wyatt Earp: [to Ringo] He’s drunk.

Doc Holliday: In vino veritas.
[“In wine is truth” meaning: “When I’m drinking, I speak my mind”]

Johnny Ringo: Age quod agis.
[“Do what you do” meaning: “Do what you do best”]

Doc Holliday: Credat Judaeus apella, non ego.
[“The Jew Apella may believe it, not I” meaning: “I don’t believe drinking is what I do best.”]

Johnny Ringo: [pats his gun] Eventus stultorum magister.
[“Events are the teachers of fools” meaning: “Fools have to learn by experience”]

Doc Holliday: [gives a Cheshire cat smile] In pace requiescat.
[“Rest in peace” meaning: “It’s your funeral!”]

Tombstone Marshal Fred White: Come on boys. We don’t want any trouble in here. Not in any language.

Doc Holliday: Evidently Mr. Ringo’s an educated man. Now I really hate him.

Elbegast.6970:

what.

hide spoiler

Johnny Ringo: [Ringo steps up to Doc] And you must be Doc Holliday.

Doc Holliday: That’s the rumor.

Johnny Ringo: You retired too?

Doc Holliday: Not me. I’m in my prime.

Johnny Ringo: Yeah, you look it.

Doc Holliday: And you must be Ringo. Look, darling, Johnny Ringo. The deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darling? Should I hate him?

Kate: You don’t even know him.

Doc Holliday: Yes, but there’s just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don’t know, reminds me of… me. No. I’m sure of it, I hate him.

Wyatt Earp: [to Ringo] He’s drunk.

Doc Holliday: In vino veritas.
[“In wine is truth” meaning: “When I’m drinking, I speak my mind”]

Johnny Ringo: Age quod agis.
[“Do what you do” meaning: “Do what you do best”]

Doc Holliday: Credat Judaeus apella, non ego.
[“The Jew Apella may believe it, not I” meaning: “I don’t believe drinking is what I do best.”]

Johnny Ringo: [pats his gun] Eventus stultorum magister.
[“Events are the teachers of fools” meaning: “Fools have to learn by experience”]

Doc Holliday: [gives a Cheshire cat smile] In pace requiescat.
[“Rest in peace” meaning: “It’s your funeral!”]

Tombstone Marshal Fred White: Come on boys. We don’t want any trouble in here. Not in any language.

Doc Holliday: Evidently Mr. Ringo’s an educated man. Now I really hate him.

I’m not entirely sure why this is here, but I like it. As to the topic, I had no idea amongst was even considered out of style. Last I spoke to anyone, I’d never really had them address any particular aspect of speech, unless they misunderstood or misheard.

Whether its out of style or not, aren’t we playing a (mostly) fantasy game? I think that makes ye olde the norm.

There are two uses for among and amongst in describing the how in the words.

among, amongst (??ma?(st)) preposition
1. in the middle of a house among the trees.
2. in shares or parts to each person (in a group etc). Divide the chocolate amongst you.

Klawlyt.6507:

Whether its out of style or not, aren’t we playing a (mostly) fantasy game? I think that makes ye olde the norm.

We are oft’ to blame in this. ‘Tis too much proved that with a kitten’s visage and rifts in our faction, we do sugar o’er the grammar itself.

Just between you and me I say, amongst ourselves we always use among.

Also depends on Rob’s schooling. US English novels the ratio is like 30:1 while English in nonUS novels is like 8:1 between among and amongst. So having a commonwealth education or a teacher/professor that did would likely affect his choice of words.

But no, amongst isn’t a problem.

Now irregardless …

Irregardless ain’t no word!

Interesting. “Amongst” isn’t unnatural at all for me anyway (either written or spoken), having grown up in New England, but, as someone mentioned, it can depend on what input you’re exposed to (in school or amongst* those you associate with).

“Whilst” on the other hand seems antiquated in my American English, although it is still quite common in the UK (and other commonwealth countries) from what I gather.

American English is only one iteration “amongst” many. If you’ve traveled across the pond, visited any of the former colonies or studied English; you will quickly become aware of this. The use of “amongst” is perfectly acceptable. No different than “irregardless.” Yes, it’s technically a word, however, it hasn’t caught on.

Amongst Friends is one of my favorite movies from the early 1990’s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amongst_Friends

Low budget movie but very very good.

lethlora.1320:

Didn’t Americans go out of style, like… many years ago?

Nexon is not in America.

I didn’t even know that it is out of style. I’m not a native English speaker and here we are taught UK English, not American, so “amongst” sounds just fine to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless

May father and I will battle over this “word” until the day I die. I have sources on my side. He has folksy wisdom.

Whilst you ladies and gentlefolk argue the nature of the contrivance of the context of colloquy and converse in courteous accord, I, whilst adversely voiced, do ledger a wager in favor of the liberal levying of flavor.

Elbegast.6970:

Whilst you ladies and gentlefolk argue the nature of the contrivance of the context of colloquy and converse in courteous accord, I, whilst adversely voiced, do ledger a wager in favor of the liberal levying of flavor.

slow clap

Hear hear!

andthenhewaslike thiis and thaat and amongst andlike big words or sumthin´
OMG liek sooo ooold!

;)

Mahaedros.7085:

Amongst Friends is one of my favorite movies from the early 1990’s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amongst_Friends

Low budget movie but very very good.

lethlora.1320:

Didn’t Americans go out of style, like… many years ago?

Nexon is not in America.

… Nexon?

Can’t tell if troll.

It’s a real word….. You’re getting on someone’s back about using a real word?

I frequently use “amongst”.

Kirschwasser.3972:

… Nexon?

Can’t tell if troll.

Nexon owns a large share in NCSoft, and GW2’s lead monetisation person is from Nexon. Not trolling.

…however that doesn’t affect the language used since Arenanet writes the… well, writing – and they are based in the US. On topic though I don’t see what’s so cringeworthy about amongst I use it all the time (<- English)

Kind of petty to complain about a word being used correctly in context.

I don’t cringe at the word amongst, whilst used properly.

I do cringe at:

“Your welcome”
“Wheres you’re grammar”
“Its over their”

And countless other internet-speak phrases.

“Do you cringe seeing “amongst”?"

Nope. It’s a perfectly valid word.

the thing that makes me cringe is people picking faults with other peoples grammar

it’s also what starts a lot of annoying map chat spam arguments in LA

xaviyago.7924:

I just finished reading Rob Thody’s news article about <a href=“https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/introducing-the-wallet/”>the wallet</a> and had to cringe when I saw the word “amongst” used in the text. No offense to Rob here, I’m nitpicking on the word itself.

I’m definitely not a grammarista, but didn’t “amongst” go out of style, I don’t know… many years ago? I thought the word was only a pompous version of “among”. Truly, is there any difference between among and amongst (other than the latter is not used in every day conversation)?

I hate the word “amongst” so much that I refuse to wear the “God walking…” title.

I was wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

The Oxford Dictionary would like to take this moment to point out that there is no difference in usage between Among and Amongst.

http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/02/among-amongst/

whilst

Klawlyt.6507:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless

May father and I will battle over this “word” until the day I die. I have sources on my side. He has folksy wisdom.

My daughter’s pediatrician used the pseudoword “irregardless” once.

I felt betrayed— how could I trust the woman with my daughter’s health after something like that? She was supposed to be educated! My wife’s objections were all that kept me from changing doctors right then and there.

Just so we’re all clear: “regardless” is the word you want. “Irrespective” is another word with a similar meaning. “Irregardless” is a clumsy portmanteau that misses the mark completely. “Ir-” is a negative prefix, so “irregardless” would be “not regardless,” which is usually the opposite of the speaker’s intent.

milo.6942:

whilst

I saw that one on a road sign whilst in Oxford for a summer term, but when I came back and used it in a thesis, my advisor criticized it pretty hard.

But then, I also saw “Tank crossing” signs— complete with silhouette of a tank— so I guess in England, anything goes.

Ryuujin.8236:

Kirschwasser.3972:

… Nexon?

Can’t tell if troll.

Nexon owns a large share in NCSoft, and GW2’s lead monetisation person is from Nexon. Not trolling.

I don’t find it strange that ANet, designing GW2 to use a cash shop for a continuing revenue stream, hires someone from the company that makes over $1.4 BILLION dollars in sales through cash shops, to run their cash shop.

She was hired in March 2012, the stock sale was done in June 2012.

RoyHarmon.5398:

milo.6942:

whilst

I saw that one on a road sign whilst in Oxford for a summer term, but when I came back and used it in a thesis, my advisor criticized it pretty hard.

But then, I also saw “Tank crossing” signs— complete with silhouette of a tank— so I guess in England, anything goes.

Presumably you were near a military base.

You learn to use ‘code-switching’ after awhile between differing versions of English. I have to try to amend my speech and writing depending on who it is I’m addressing so that I don’t get that kind of nitpicking. (Although all sides love pointing out that I have an accent. ><)

<- Dual US/UK citizen

Behellagh.1468:

Also depends on Rob’s schooling. US English novels the ratio is like 30:1 while English in nonUS novels is like 8:1 between among and amongst. So having a commonwealth education or a teacher/professor that did would likely affect his choice of words.

But no, amongst isn’t a problem.

Now irregardless …

Or “reoccurring”.
Which, sadly, the forum does not identify that word as being spelled improperly.

I also agree with the usage outlined by Im Mudbone’s post.

I think it may also come down to how nice it sounds rolling off your tongue (even though presumably you’re not reading this stuff aloud). For me, a glottal stop followed by a vowel is easier to pronounce, and clarifies where one word ends and where the other begins (say “among all” and “amongst all” and note the difference). There’s really no merit to using one word over the other when you’re writing, though.

shrugs

Doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Its just a word.

People speak and write differently, it is slightly unique to each person…just like your signature, for example. Our choice of wording, how we phrase a thought, all tell others things about us. The use of the term ‘amongst’ and ‘mayhap’ might lead one to believe that the user is possibly older, or may have had a slightly more rigid, traditional upbringing. If someone uses the terms ‘whilst’ or ‘telly’ it may betray that their nationality may be different than your (typically British terms for example). On the other hand, if someone says something like ’i’m the shiznit bro’ I suddenly have images of a teenage boy that needs to have his pants yanked up and be told to put on a kitten belt.

Leo G.4501:

I like ‘amongst’. It has a ye olde flavor to it :-P

I only really use it if I’m writing a story though, and if it flows with the sentence. If I’m talking or writing dialog…well, no one ever says ‘amongst’ anymore.

Technically, that would be a ‘þhe olde’ flavor, lol.

I don’t mind the use of ‘amongst’, but then again one of my favorite bands used it in the title of one of their albums (Amongst the Catacombs of the Nephren-Ka).