# Nitpick this thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 6, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732 "2007-10-06T04:45:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/61 "2007-10-08T11:47:03Z")
Firstly, I’m seeing a lot of uncited assertion here - what makes you think your bald statement of this or that should be taken as fact? And secondly, please clarify which, if any, of the dictionary definitions of [nit](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=nit), [pick](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pick), [this](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/this) and [thread](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thread) we’re supposed to be using here. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/62 "2007-10-08T13:03:01Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] That would be ‘allowed.’ ETA: Sorry **mangeorge** , didn’t mean to hit you twice in a row. [/QUOTE] That one was intentional. Supposed to a semi-joke. Consider yourself whooshed. 😉 The other one, well, I just don’t like “L”'s. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/63 "2007-10-08T21:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Firstly (snip) And secondly [/QUOTE] Most style manuals now suggest that “first” and “second” be used in this context. See the **First, Second, Third.** entry on [this page.](http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/f.html) ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/64 "2007-10-08T22:07:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sternvogel] Most style manuals [/QUOTE] Shouldn’t you name the manuals in question? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/65 "2007-10-08T22:27:48Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Is “eh” a word?!?! [/QUOTE] 😕 Why wouldn’t it be? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/66 "2007-10-08T23:24:26Z")
[QUOTE=Sternvogel] Most style manuals now suggest that “first” and “second” be used in this context. See the **First, Second, Third.** entry on [this page.](http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/f.html) [/QUOTE] Well, that’s the trouble with prescriptivism. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/67 "2007-10-09T01:09:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sternvogel] Most style manuals now suggest that “first” and “second” be used in this context. See the **First, Second, Third.** entry on [this page.](http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/f.html) [/QUOTE] No need to capitalize or bold _first_, _second_ or _third_, but they should be italicized. No period needed after _third_, and you should use _and_ after _second_. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/68 "2007-10-09T01:29:45Z")
[QUOTE=TokyoPlayer] No need to capitalize or bold _first_, _second_ or _third_, but they should be italicized. No period needed after _third_, and you should use _and_ after _second_. [/QUOTE] What if you use numerals? See the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd entry? I’ve seen as 1st 2nd & 3rd entry. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/69 "2007-10-09T02:10:18Z")
These should be spelled out. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/70 "2007-10-09T03:58:17Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Is “eh” a word?!?! [/QUOTE] It is in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/71 "2007-10-09T04:36:39Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] It is in Canada. [/QUOTE] My UPer grandfather-in-law uses it quite extensivly. > **[Eh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eh)** > > Eh (/ˈeɪ/ or /ˈɛ/) is a spoken interjection used in many varieties of English. The oldest Oxford English Dictionary defines eh as "an interjectional interrogative particle often inviting assent to the sentiment expressed." Today, while eh has many different uses, it is most popularly used in a manner similar in meaning to "Excuse me?", "Can you repeat that?", "Huh?", or to otherwise mark a question. It is also commonly used as an alternative to the question tag "right?", as a method for i In th... (Bonus point if you know what a UPer (yooper) is, that’s a regional term, isn’t it?) ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/72 "2007-10-09T05:05:39Z")
Bonus points should not be given to questions which can [easily be found](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Peninsula_of_Michigan) by following a provided link. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/73 "2007-10-09T23:12:34Z")
[QUOTE=TokyoPlayer] Bonus points should not be given to questions which can [easily be found](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Peninsula_of_Michigan) by following a provided link. [/QUOTE] Also, **JoeyP** never asked a starting question. Bonus points can only be issued if you give the correct answer to a starting question. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/74 "2007-10-09T23:27:20Z")
[QUOTE=Governor Quinn] Also, **JoeyP** never asked a starting question. Bonus points can only be issued if you give the correct answer to a starting question. [/QUOTE] My name has a space in it, “Joey P.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/75 "2007-10-09T23:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=Governor Quinn] Also, **JoeyP** never asked a starting question. Bonus points can only be issued if you give the correct answer to a starting question. [/QUOTE] Well, **TokyoPlayer** won’t let me use numerals. Doesn’t that balance out? Two wrongs equal one right, so **Joey P** wins! Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/76 "2007-10-10T13:24:02Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Is “eh” a word?!?! [/QUOTE] Eh what? You’ll have to speak up, I’m a bit mutton 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/77 "2007-10-10T15:06:52Z")
I’m sorry, but I thought the ellipsis was already indicative of a space, a gap, a pause… ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/78 "2007-10-10T15:27:17Z")
This thread is so silly that even **SSG Schwartz** has abandoned it. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/79 "2007-10-10T15:56:29Z")
[QUOTE=TokyoPlayer] This thread is so silly that even **SSG Schwartz** has abandoned it. [/QUOTE] Not to pick a nit, but I am stealthy about who I put in my sights. 😃 SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732/80 "2007-10-10T16:59:05Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Eh what? You’ll have to speak up, I’m a bit mutton 😛 [/QUOTE] Wha??? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpick-this-thread/421732.md?page=5)