if....were

[mindsweeper]

I've always used the expression:

if I were you

(not was you) and, in a recent post, used

as though laughter were a foreign language

without knowing why or what rule governed the construction. So I PM'd Harry who sent me some interesting links which I don't know how to transfer to here, so I'm hoping Harry will oblige.

For the first time I actually know the reason for what I've been doing for years.

Just wondered what others thought; would it be considered pedantic or archaic from some viewpoints?

Ruth

[Harry R]

Endless materials for the bored, curious and pedantic:

The alt.usage.english FAQ -

http://www.alt-usage-english.org/fast_faq.shtml#notes

The American Heritage® Book of English Usage, from bartleby.com (various other style/grammar books are also searchable at Bartleby)-

http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/061.html

Jack Lynch's style guide -

http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/

The Style Guide for the Guardian (UK newspaper) -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide/0,5817,184913,00.html

and the Times (London, not New York) -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,2941,00.html