at this point in time, or at this point of time
Nethan
thought means "now". But I am now doubting it since I heard twice of
this expression, "at this point in time", which I suppose means "now"
too. To be precise, here is the scenario. The speaker is ill today and
he wrote in an email to me, "At this point in time, tomorrow is iffy".
So here come questions:
1. Which expression is correct: at this point in time, or at this
point of time?
2. BTW, iffy means uncertain according to dictionary. Is this word
used often? Does it sound weird if I use it orally or in writing?
Thanks!
Jacqui
> 1. Which expression is correct: at this point in time, or at this
> point of time?
In.
> 2. BTW, iffy means uncertain according to dictionary. Is this word
> used often? Does it sound weird if I use it orally or in writing?
It's not weird unless you're writing formally. But it's wise to make
certain you're very sure how it is used or it will sound odd. It *is*
common in informal English, to mean doubtful, uncertain, dodgy [crooked
or suspicious], and so on. One could feel iffy too.
Jac
Skitt
> Hi, I thought there was a phrase "at this point of time" that I
> thought means "now". But I am now doubting it since I heard twice of
> this expression, "at this point in time", which I suppose means "now"
> too. To be precise, here is the scenario. The speaker is ill today and
> he wrote in an email to me, "At this point in time, tomorrow is iffy".
>
> So here come questions:
> 1. Which expression is correct: at this point in time, or at this
> point of time?
"At this point *in* time" is the usual trite phrase.
> 2. BTW, iffy means uncertain according to dictionary. Is this word
> used often? Does it sound weird if I use it orally or in writing?
It is used colloquially. Whether it is weird would depend on context and
register of the rest of the matter.
--
Skitt (in SF Bay Area) http://www.geocities.com/opus731/
I speak English well -- I learn it from a book!
-- Manuel (Fawlty Towers)
Don Phillipson
news:aa934a0a.03032...@posting.google.com...
> 2. BTW, iffy means uncertain according to dictionary. Is this word
> used often? Does it sound weird if I use it orally or in writing?
Iffy is used only in informal oral speech
(or reported informal oral speech.) It should
not appear in writing unless it is needed to
say something distinct that no other word
or word provides.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
dphillipson[at]trytel.com
N.Mitchum
----
> 1. Which expression is correct: at this point in time, or at this
> point of time?
> 2. BTW, iffy means uncertain according to dictionary. Is this word
> used often? Does it sound weird if I use it orally or in writing?
1. Point in time
2. It's used often enough that everybody understands it. The word
won't sound weird if used informally, and you could probably get
away with using it in formal contexts.
----NM
richard.chambers7
> thought means "now". But I am now doubting it since I heard twice of
> this expression, "at this point in time", which I suppose means "now"
> too. To be precise, here is the scenario. The speaker is ill today and
> he wrote in an email to me, "At this point in time, tomorrow is iffy".
>
> So here come questions:
> 1. Which expression is correct: at this point in time, or at this
> point of time?
The correct expression is "at this point in time". The use of "of" is
incorrect.
Some books on writing style list the expression "at this point in time" as a
grandiose circumlocution. For example, "Scientists Must Write", by Robert
Barrass (Chapman and Hall, 1978) lists 50 or so common expressions,
including "at this point in time" as verbose. The following is a sample of
verbose and grandiose expressions cited by Barrass, which he recommends us
to avoid:-
at this point in time (= now)
In view of the fact that (=because)
In spite of the fact that (=although)
which goes under the name of (=called)
arrive at a decision (=decide)
I do not agree with Barrass that "at this point in time" can always be
replaced by "now". However, I do agree with him that it is usually a
verbosity. Where it cannot be replaced by "now", it can usually be left out
altogether. "Our appointment tomorrow seems iffy", or "Our appointment
tomorrow now seems iffy".
As well as being verbose, the expression "at this point in time", like the
expression "the bottom line", is a cliché. Another reason to avoid it.
Richard Chambers Leeds UK.
Charles Riggs
history, by writing:
>Nethan wrote:
>
>> Hi, I thought there was a phrase "at this point of time" that I
>> thought means "now". But I am now doubting it since I heard twice of
>> this expression, "at this point in time", which I suppose means "now"
>> too. To be precise, here is the scenario. The speaker is ill today and
>> he wrote in an email to me, "At this point in time, tomorrow is iffy".
>>
>> So here come questions:
>> 1. Which expression is correct: at this point in time, or at this
>> point of time?
>
>"At this point *in* time" is the usual trite phrase.
Yes. As we both remember, I'm sure, it is a favourite with the
military. Pompous Navy Captains and those of lower rank love it, it
seems.
--
Charles Riggs
For email, take the air out of aircom and
replace it with eir
Mike Lyle
> Nethan wrote:
>
> > Hi, I thought there was a phrase "at this point of time" that I
> > thought means "now". But I am now doubting it since I heard twice of
> > this expression, "at this point in time", which I suppose means "now"
> > too. To be precise, here is the scenario. The speaker is ill today and
> > he wrote in an email to me, "At this point in time, tomorrow is iffy".
> >
> > So here come questions:
> > 1. Which expression is correct: at this point in time, or at this
> > point of time?
>
> "At this point *in* time" is the usual trite phrase.
>
Trite, indeed, and very bad English. There can be few places where
"now" or possibly "at present" would not be better. (I think the only
reason for not using "now" would be that it can *sometimes* suggest a
transition to a degree of permanence: "I don't smoke now" is different
from "I don't smoke at present".)
Cf "on a xxxx basis": "on a daily basis" is a stupid way of saying
"daily" or "every day"; "on a part-time basis" is a stupid way of
saying "part-time"; etc.
English is full of these obese expressions, and it's a good idea to
learn to recognise and avoid them. They usually start as attempts to
make the speaker seem important, but for some reason we find them
infectious.
Mike.
John Dawkins
Charles Riggs <chr...@aircom.net> wrote:
So did John Dean, when speaking to Sam Irvine and his committee.
--
J.
