Discussion Forum (Archived)
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"As it were" may sound affected, but some people like it. Here are a couple of blog posts you might find interesting:
http://www.mtannoyances.com/?p=63
http://www.mtannoyances.com/?p=828
I think it does perhaps always sound pretentious, or "[a way] of ironically drawing attention to the fact that understatement is being used and so to the cleverness of the understatement (and understater)," as is quoted on the second blog entry. I would almost prefer the phrase "if one might so put it," but that's really the same thing. I don't need anyone to point out their metaphor usage! Thanks for the blog postings; at least I know its origin.
I like it, personally, and I hate seeing the continued decline of the subjunctive. I, too, have had people actually correct me, saying, "Don't you mean, 'If I was?'"
I guess it's part of a larger peeve I have about getting called out if I use a word that isn't part of the "approved" 100 or so that everyone uses all the time. We have a great language; why not use it?
Also, regarding the word “were,” is the sentence “If I were going to the store, I'd buy milk.” correct? Shouldn't it be “If I was going?”
My understanding is that when speaking of any condition contrary to fact, "were" is preferred usage. So any time there's an "if," you use were rather than was.
For example: If I weren't so pretentious, I wouldn't care of you said "was."
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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