Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2016 June 29

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June 29

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Would you refer to a number of years as "more" or "greater"?

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When you are referring to a "number of years", would you use the words "more/less" or "greater/lesser"? Or is either one appropriate? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 02:45, 29 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't normally use either of those with the phrase "number of years". But it seems that's not exactly what you meant... --69.159.9.187 (talk) 02:52, 29 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I was reading this article: List of high school football rivalries more than 100 years old. And I was wondering if the correct wording should be "more than 100 years old" or "greater than 100 years old"? Is there any difference? Or are they both the same? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 02:47, 29 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I'd say that with "more than" or "over" is standard, and "greater than" sounds wrong. But I can't cite a reference to prove that that's what I think, as you asked for. --69.159.9.187 (talk) 02:52, 29 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]
A quantity can be greater than 100 units, but a rivalry is not a quantity. That's my intuitive hot take and I'm stickin' to it. —Tamfang (talk) 07:47, 30 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Likewise. And if you substitute "larger" for "greater", it should be clear why it sounds kind of odd. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots16:27, 30 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

My question is as follows. There is an article entitled List of high school football rivalries more than 100 years old. From a language/grammar point of view, is it more appropriate to entitle this article as List of high school football rivalries more than 100 years old ... or ... List of high school football rivalries greater than 100 years old ... or ... does it make no difference? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 16:33, 30 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Keep it as "more". Substitute "larger" for "greater" and you can see why "greater" is not quite right. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots16:37, 30 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, all. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 18:34, 1 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Old Italian song

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Does anyone recognize this old Italian song? Can anyone provide any info or details? An internet video or such? The main chorus or phrase is something along the lines of Quando il vento cambia vivremo tutti in un convento. The English meaning is something like "when we go through a lot of life's changes, we will end up at the convent or the monastery". Wish I had more. That's the only real info that I have. Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 02:55, 29 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

For what little it's worth, I read it as "When the wind changes, we'll all live in a convent." —Tamfang (talk) 04:57, 3 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, "when the wind changes" is literal. The metaphorical is something like "as we go through life's changes". Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 03:52, 4 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Meaning "as our experiences change us", rather than "as our circumstances change"? —Tamfang (talk) 07:32, 5 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Syllables of "Bagaimana" (Indonesian word) using spaces

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Syllabification of "Bagaimana" (Indonesian word), using spaces to separate the syllables? 115.178.197.57 (talk) 07:21, 29 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Ba ga i ma na. KägeTorä - () (もしもし!) 19:15, 29 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Phrase “autocomplete”, or rather: Automatic phrase continuation suggestions, application for Windows 7 ?

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