Chironomus - BugGuide.Net

Moved

… Hartmut Wisch, 2 November, 2007 - 1:15pm

I'm sure there are plenty of

I'm sure there are plenty of other genera besides Chironomus that reach this size... there's no shame in admitting defeat and placing it at the family level.

… Joe, Entomologist (in training), 4 May, 2007 - 10:09pm

But for a grammarian, there is shame...

in an indefinite reference of a pronoun. Lose it!

… Ron Hemberger, 5 May, 2007 - 12:10am

Yes...

Lose the grammarian! ;-)

… Chuck Entz, 5 May, 2007 - 12:36am

you lost me on that one

… Joe, Entomologist (in training), 5 May, 2007 - 12:18am

OK. Time to parse.

The nearest noun preceding the pronoun "it" is "defeat". An anticedent is presumably linked to the closest noun coming before. Otherwise, it's indefinite. As a result, your sentence could be taken to mean that you are advising putting defeat at the family level.

I know my grammar, but think a lot of it isn't important. This is a good case in point. (Notice another pronoun error here?) BTW, I'm a horrid speller!

Winston Churchill reportedly put a strict grammarian down over a comment about Churchill's ending a sentence with a preposition. When advised of his gaffe, Churchill said (paraphrased): "This is such pedantry up with which I shall not put."

Bet Hartmut knows that one. Chuck, too.

… Ron Hemberger, 5 May, 2007 - 12:31am

Edifying as this has been, I

Edifying as this has been, I can't help but think we've gotten off topic from the matter at hand. :)

… Joe, Entomologist (in training), 5 May, 2007 - 1:30am

Right; send me your email address if you'd like

We seem to have a lot to discuss. Mine's with my profile, if you're interested.

… Ron Hemberger, 5 May, 2007 - 9:40am

What's that?

Defeat or victory aren't part of my thinking, but I would like to learn more about these, including the genera in this family that are about this size.

… Hartmut Wisch, 4 May, 2007 - 11:44pm

Very nice photo

Fine detail and good angle. "Headdress" makes it look like some god figure from an ancient Egyptian vase. Wow!

… Ron Hemberger, 4 May, 2007 - 9:41pm

You should find these in OC -

Jim Hogue comments that their larvae should be common in a reservoir like Santa Fe Dam.

… Hartmut Wisch, 4 May, 2007 - 9:46pm