An article to put grammar nazis in their place

[tinkerdan]

No enough funds this year I'd guess.
That's what happens when there trying to get their with they're own editors.

 

[Kylara]

Personal moan to add to the collective.

On the weekend.

It should be: At the weekend.

On Monday is fine, on Saturday is fine, on holiday is fine, but on the weekend is wrong. At for the plurality of the weekend!

 

[Ursa major]

Of course, with hours, one can have both "on the hour" and "at the hour"** neither of which mean what "at the weekend" means for weekends, and "on Monday" means for Mondays, as they refer to an instant in time rather than a period of time....


** - Well, "at the hour of <some reference to time>".

 

[tinkerdan]

In some ways it might be said that on the weekend is the US American English where at the weekend is the British English.
However sometimes I think it is a bit more complex than that and might depend on what is being said and trying to be clear.

I will do my work over the weekend.
I will do my work during the weekend.
I will do my work for the weekend. (notice how much different this one feels from the first two.)

I do my work on the weekend.
I do my work in the weekend.
I do my work at the weekend.

One thing I also have a problem with is 'the weekend' doesn't strike me as plural.
the dog
the cat
the rat
the weekend

the dogs
the cats
the rats
the weekends

 

[Phyrebrat]

the dogs
the cats
the rats
the weekends

I think it comes from the fact that the animals are physical entities whereas the weekend is not.

I don't see a problem with collecting weekends - at work we also plan rehearsals for 'the weekends'.

Outside of that, what is wrong with (for example) coming back to work on a Monday and saying to colleagues, 'The weekends are too short.'?

pH

 

[tinkerdan]

The trouble is that the weekend refers to one weekend The weekend
Weekends or the weekends might refer to all or multiple weekends.
so there is no problem with weekends only a problem with trying to make weekend into a plural.

 

[Phyrebrat]

I disagree.

Maybe it's a vocational concern, but here in school we often refer to 'the weekends'. I think it's an awkward example of the English language having such mutable rules

pH

 

[tinkerdan]

Not sure where the disagreement is unless you are using weekends as a singular.
Unfortunately I'm becoming increasingly unsure.

singular
Monday
Tuesday
Weekend
Week

plural
Mondays
Tuesdays
Weekends
Weeks

At weekend; refers to one weekend.
At weekends; refers to weekends in general.

 

[Ursa major]

One thing I also have a problem with is 'the weekend' doesn't strike me as plural.

You're quite correct in having a problem with it being a plural, as it isn't one.

After all, we say things such as, "I'll be working on it over the next three weekends."


Even the French think it's singular, hence le weekend.

 

[Kylara]

By plurality I meant to differentiate between the singular days with which one can use 'on' and 'the weekend' being a plurality of days, hence the 'at'. Weekend is a combination of two days.

I also see no problem with 'weekends' as a word. For example - practice at weekends, to indicate every weekend for a certain period of time.

 

[tinkerdan]

A weekend is one weekend that is a combination of two days and the only plurality is the days. Those two days are always one weekend.
Just as an hour is a combination of minutes those 60 minutes are always one hour.
A day is 24 hours those 24 hours are one day.

I'm not sure of the reason or value of calling on hour plural or one day plural or one weekend plural.

(I struck out that last inane comment I made. )

 

[Cathbad]

~takes the cyanide pill~

 

[Phyrebrat]

I didn't realise you were refering to what makes up a weekend as plural (two days), and was saying that more than one weekend is plural, hence 'the weekends'. I think we might be agreeing (?)

pH

 

[Kylara]

Hah. Yes Phyre, I think we agree?

My issue is the use of 'on' with 'weekend' you can't be on multiple days. It's 'at' with 'weekend'.

Weekends as a descriptor of multiple weekend time spans put together is fine.

 

[Steve Harrison]

'On the weekend' is perfectly fine with me, probably because I grew up hearing that term (in England) and it is in common usage here in Australia. 'At the weekend' sounds 'clunky' and I therefore reject it!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I missed all of this weekend stuff before.

I think "on the weekend" is American, and "at the weekend" is British, for the same thing. Although I don't often say "on the weekend" anyway. What are you doing this weekend? I'm working on my book this weekend. I have to get this done over the weekend. This weekend, we're doing something. Last weekend, we did something. Nope, no "on" anywhere. But definitely no "at", either. At is for time. I have to be there at three o'clock. Or possibly holidays, generally speaking. At Thanksgiving, we have turkey. At Christmas, we decorate the tree. But not specific holidays. We don't say, "At Christmas, we opened the presents at seven o'clock." That would be "On Christmas...."

Hmm. I wonder if that's the difference with the weekend thing? At the weekend, we like to go to the beach. But on the weekend, ... no. On weekends, we like to go to the beach. This weekend, we're going to the beach. Last weekend, we went to the beach. So at substitutes for on, when referring to general weekends. That works for me, same as the holiday thing. But specific ones, those don't seem to take either one.

 

[Danny McG]

I'm decorating my lad's room at the weekend.
(I really am but it's only to stop the nagging)
The alternative would sound so wrong - "I'm decorating my lad's room on the weekend" (shudder)

 

[HareBrain]

I used to like weekends. Now I hate them. It. Whatever.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I'm decorating my lad's room at the weekend.
(I really am but it's only to stop the nagging)
The alternative would sound so wrong - "I'm decorating my lad's room on the weekend" (shudder)

See, I wouldn't say either of those. I would say "this weekend".

 

[Phyrebrat]

It's funny cos I prefer 'in'

pH