One more vote for the “never heard it, and it sounds strange” side.
Technically, it seems to me that just about anything can be stated, no matter how syntactically or semantically incorrect, and if the listener understands what the speaker is saying, all is well. Communication is the goal, and if communication is taking place, then there is nothing wrong with what has been said.
However, care must be taken when the speaker is unsure about the listener’s ability to comprehend. If the speaker uses a term (say, “anymore”) in a place where the listener does not expect to hear it (say, substituting for “from now on”), the listener’s train of thought is interrupted while he or she tries to figure out just what has been said. It usually doesn’t take too long, as we all know from experience, but the pause and the interruption are there, and communication struggles to take place.
So if the construction is used among those who are familiar with it in informal settings–with friends or relatives, perhaps–it would be fine. But for more formal uses (in business, speaking to a group where most of the audience are personally unfamiliar to the speaker, in written communication, etc.), I’d recommend avoiding it.
Still, I’ve never heard “anymore” used that way, and it does sound strange. If it crossed my desk in a piece of writing that was to be edited, I’d get rid of it.
The argument that you presented - that it does not matter how we present our arguments, erupts frequently and bj0rn has been one of the most fervent supporters of the “I don’t need rules, I’m presenting my thoughts and you should be able to work out what I mean” school of thought.
It is true that language evolves, and grammar and spelling change over time, but we need some common ground if we are to communicate effectively. I don’t think I am so retentive that I get all hung up on typos, but I don’t like sloppy, slapdash communication.
I do get a little bit anal about ‘. Last year, I visited Windsor Castle, and was standing behind an English speaking tourist who was amazed at the sign for "Queen Anne’s Dolls’ House" and who said “I had no idea the rules about apostrophes were so precise”. A view shared by many, I think.
RussellM
Okay, RussellM, I get it about Bjorn–I think. But I’m kind of new, so I guess I’ve got a few things to learn still. No harm done, and thanks for the tip about him.
Ah, but the gist of what I’m saying is that it does matter how we present our arguments, because if the listener does not understand what the speaker is saying, then communication cannot be easy. In one way, it’s not much different from a speaker of one language trying to communicate with a speaker of a different one–neither will understand the other until they find a common ground: another mutually-understood language, or hand gestures, or pictures, or something.
I do not agree with the idea that “a listener should be able to figure out what I mean,” especially if my way of expressing my argument consists of what I know to be non-standard usages. Again, this is like going to a country where English is not the native language and expecting the locals to be fluent in English. Some will be, some might have some exposure, but an English speaker in such a situation shouldn’t expect to find that everybody understands English perfectly. Communication will be difficult.
I think you and I are thinking along the same lines here, Russell. We do need rules that make communication easy, and in this instance, the most important are those that deal with the meaning of the word “anymore” in an unusual (to most of us) usage.
This is the point I was trying to make–that “anymore” meaning “from now on” is fine when it is in an informal setting with others who will understand it immediately. But if there is the slightest chance that it will interrupt the flow of communication, I would recommend using something more understandable to the listener.
As for apostrophes, I’ve seen far too many errors with them lately. But that’s likely another thread.
I meant pretty much exactly what CurtC said–he just said it a lot better!
And frumpy–no worries about the affair. I think my boyfriend would proably get a little upset…Not to mention that as much as I sometimes wish I could love women instead of men, it just doesn’t work that way for me.