🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Aug8.064942.13440@leland.Stanford.EDU>, richwing@leland.Stanford.EDU (Rich Wingerter) writes:
> Is it possible that we sometimes take key parts of sentences and cram them
> together to get points across?

Sure.  And for the Neuman sentences it's not impossible.  But it's also
possible that they are one unit, not a composite; and I don't know any
way to tell the difference for sure.  My *feeling* is that they're not
composites, but it is just a feeling.

> Another phrase that bothers me is:
> 
>    Believe It Or Not
> 
> Believe it or don't!

Why should it bother you?  The form is not an imperative, but a nontensed,
subjectless predicate.  In your example the predicate is a verb, but examples
with predicate adjectives and nouns are very common.

	Good or not, you've got to eat your soup.
	President or not, he's a fool.
	Expensive or not, I'd rather do something else.

If your comment were on target, it'sd be "Expensive or isn't..."

Peace.  It's time for me to go to the beach for a week.  But I shall
return.

--Leo Connolly