[Misc] Mental gymnastics of former…latter

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Victor Echo Romeo Yankee Delta Romeo Oscar Lima Lima.

This is fun.

Also, I did not know until roughly thirty seconds ago that 'L' was 'Lima'. I've always thought it was 'Lemur'.

I think you're just being a cheeky monkey.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I can't get to grips with this whisky, fox-trot, delta, hotel malarkey. When someone starts spelling words to me like this, I have to ask them just to say the first letter as it takes me ages to work out what these words begin with. Is it just me?

Yep.

Worse is when I tell someone my phone number, and they read it back to me using the wrong rhythm.

It starts 'zero seven seven', so why do the fuggers say 'Oh double seven'.
My reply is usually something along the lines of:

"I'm not James effing D Nob . . . .

Apparently this is an autistic trait
(Getting shirty over trivia, I mean).

 

[HeaviestTed]

Sorry? Someone is confused by Former and Latter?

Not confused, just have to go through effort to figure out what part is what, unnecessarily I think.

 

[Albion my Albion]

latter-day

I also used to think the Mormons were "ladder-day" Saints or they thought there was some climbing to get to heaven. What our child minds will think!!

 

[Van Cleef]

I can't get to grips with this whisky, fox-trot, delta, hotel malarkey. When someone starts spelling words to me like this, I have to ask them just to say the first letter as it takes me ages to work out what these words begin with. Is it just me?

I can never remember what they are so I just make my own up as I go along, Alan, Bosnia-herzogivina, Codswallop etc.

 

[Happy Exile]

Using “less” and “fewer” in the right contexts was something I didn’t properly understand until I was over 40. It’s good now though to make less mistakes and have fewer embarrassment than I used to.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Honestly when I first heard those phrases I thought it was "the farmer and the ladder."

@El Presidente still has a few copies left if you are quick

 

[BBassic]

Using “less” and “fewer” in the right contexts was something I didn’t properly understand until I was over 40. It’s good now though to make less mistakes and have fewer embarrassment than I used to.

That one is fun to purposefully mix up around pedantic friends.

 

[maffew]

Huh? First and last isn't close to what former latter means. Previous and next perhaps but I use former/latter often

 

[zefarelly]

I can't get to grips with this whisky, fox-trot, delta, hotel malarkey. When someone starts spelling words to me like this, I have to ask them just to say the first letter as it takes me ages to work out what these words begin with. Is it just me?

Once you get the kkkeekk its easy

 

[Anger]

Every time I see former/latter I have to mentally think, former comes first so it is the first thing they were pointing out which was … and latter means the second so that was …

I can’t do it.

Considering the two options in your poll, I favoured the latter.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Considering the two options in your poll, I favoured the latter.

I just spotted the thread title again after a sharpener and saw 'foaming latte'.
f*** that. Not this time of evening.
It's time for red red wine.
Followed by a virtual trip to Elland Road.
Come on you Mackems.

 

[Robdinho]

I can never remember what they are so I just make my own up as I go along, Alan, Bosnia-herzogivina, Codswallop etc.

A is for Aye
B is for Bee
C is for Cue
D is for Djinn
E is for Eye
...

 

[Si Gull]

Huh? First and last isn't close to what former latter means. Previous and next perhaps but I use former/latter often

Exactly. The former may not be the first, the latter may not be the last.

 

[GT49er]

The male and female symbols always get me. I’m completely missing any logic to them.

They'll shirley be made officially redundant any time soon!

 

[Bodian]

The male and female symbols always get me. I’m completely missing any logic to them.

Well, in the olden days, the ladies used to wear skirts and the gents trousers. Since all this wokeism, I never know which toilet I'm meant to be using. Although I do quite like the odd pub where they have a picture of someone using a urinal - which just describes what you'll find rather than how you should dress.

(I latterly (!) realised you didn't mean that - but it's how I first read your comment, and my initial thought was 'how could they not know...')

I can't get to grips with this whisky, fox-trot, delta, hotel malarkey. When someone starts spelling words to me like this, I have to ask them just to say the first letter as it takes me ages to work out what these words begin with. Is it just me?

To be pedantic - I think you'll find it's whisky, fox-trot, delta, mike.....

 

[maffew]

Yankee Echo Sierra.

Mate used to think it was hilarious walking past traffic wardens or police making a walkie talkie/radio noise uttering Charlie uniform November Tango
Very immature!

 

[maffew]

They'll shirley be made officially redundant any time soon!

Wouldn't happen in America

 

[GT49er]

Former - first
Latter - last

Surely easy?

Former isn't the same as first.

 

[Stato]

I appreciate the explanation, but I promise you it will make ZERO difference. It just doesn't go in! It's a proper mental block for me.

Latter is one letter away from later and its the later of the two.