an online timer!

[lobelia321]

Look what I found online:

A timer!

Brought to you by yours truly, Dr Lobelia Stepford-Hooverbaggins

*cackles in timed 5-minute bursts*

Useful for all manner of activity, including:

- improv writing
- keyboard vacuuming
- quickie wanking
- sink shining



Wondering whether to type 'all manner of activity' or 'all manner of activities', I checked my online dictionary of choice and was horrified to discover the phrase to the manner born.

Aaaack!!! This is not true!! This is spelled to the manor born, surely? Am I correct? Or am I correct?

To the manner... *coughs and chokes on own bile*

But can anyone help with the 'all manner of' dilemma? If qualifying a noun, should that noun be plural or singular? I've opted for the latter but zen, I am a foreign zpeaker and also an inveterate pedant.

Comments

[novanumbernine.livejournal.com]

i don't think that the phrase "to the manor born" is intrinsically wrong, it's just a pun on the original. and it was also the name of a very well-known tv programme, which is probably why everyone thinks that is the "correct" version. fret not!

i still think "all manner of..." works better with a plural. unlike your other question, though, i am not certain!

n.x :)