Talk:Scolpaig Tower

Likely

"The name likely derives from the Old Norse..."
To an Englishman like me, using "likely" in this way has always seemed like an Americanism, though I've seen mention that it is a bit frowned upon there, too. But having recently heard a Scot use it in the same way makes me wonder; is this a Scottish idiom? Does anyone know? Moonraker12 (talk) 10:47, 10 January 2014 (UTC)

Usage like that strikes me as American too. There may be Scots who say this but personally I don't think it's a common Scottish idiom and at best it sounds overly informal for an encyclopedia. Mutt Lunker (talk) 12:01, 10 January 2014 (UTC)

...see the note at Collins about "use without an intensifier". Mutt Lunker (talk) 12:04, 10 January 2014 (UTC)

... ah - hence Eliza Doolittle's most famous remark. Ben MacDui 19:15, 10 January 2014 (UTC)

Nice one! Moonraker12 (talk) 14:17, 11 January 2014 (UTC)

I guess you could substitute "probably" with it. Mutt Lunker (talk) 21:20, 10 January 2014 (UTC)

Thanks for the replies (and the link). I was thinking of making a proposal on it at WP:ENGVAR, or somewhere (when I get round to it!) as it seems no less incorrect in American English: but when I saw that I thought I should check (if it was a Scottish idiom, ENGVAR would apply).

As for this article, “probably” works for me... Thanks again, Moonraker12 (talk) 14:23, 11 January 2014 (UTC)