gerunds

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · November 29th, 2010, 9:46 am

obviously, improv is the abbreviated form for improvise...but when conjugating that abbreviated form (or the further abbreviated "prov") into a gerund, how do you avoid spelling "improving" or "proving" instead? i've taken to adding an extra v (improvving, provving), but that looks weird and i thought i'd see if anyone else had developed a more elegant solution.

Spots · Post by **Spots** » November 29th, 2010, 9:57 am

I note that "vising" and being a"viser" appear unpopular.

(I find it difficult to read that last sentence without a German accent.)

Brad Hawkins · Post by **Brad Hawkins** » November 29th, 2010, 12:28 pm

Is it really necessary to conjugate the abbreviation? Just as one refers to "improvisers" rather than "improvers," perhaps one should stick to "improvising?"

Spots · Post by **Spots** » November 29th, 2010, 12:37 pm

Brad Hawkins has a point.

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · November 29th, 2010, 1:07 pm

but we (or at least some of us) do refer to both improv and "improvvers" in colloquial speech (more often "provvers"), so it would help when communicating in a written medium how best to spell that. yes, one could spell out the whole word. that's an option. but it doesn't quite answer the question at hand.

Spots · Post by **Spots** » November 29th, 2010, 1:17 pm

imprauvers

improv.ers

imprawvers

improv'ers

Are we liking anything yet?

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · November 29th, 2010, 1:32 pm

the first one. if only for the fanciness.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » November 29th, 2010, 1:59 pm

No. This situation is just a casualty of the English language. There is no viable solution. Let it go.

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · November 29th, 2010, 2:04 pm

Jeff wrote:No. This situation is just a casualty of the English language. There is no viable solution. Let it go.

NEVAH!

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » November 29th, 2010, 2:25 pm

KathyRose · Post by **KathyRose** » November 29th, 2010, 2:40 pm

Stop coining words! Who do you think you are? Sarah Palin?

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · November 29th, 2010, 2:44 pm

KathyRose wrote:Stop coining words! Who do you think you are? Sarah Palin?

well, gosh, i'm not trying to coin any high falutin' new words. i'm just tryin' to figure out the best way to spell the word that's already out there, you betcha!

Marc Majcher · Post by **Marc Majcher** » November 29th, 2010, 3:00 pm

Jeff wrote:No. This situation is just a casualty of the English language. There is no viable solution. Let it go.

Seconded. The words "improvers" and "improving" (or even "provving", eeugh) grate on my ears and brain as much as, if not more than, they do on your eyes when written down. DESTROY!

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · November 29th, 2010, 3:27 pm

it's not such a bad little word...all it needs is a little love...

mpbrockman · Post by **mpbrockman** » December 1st, 2010, 3:17 am

monkeyangst wrote:Is it really necessary to conjugate the abbreviation? Just as one refers to "improvisers" rather than "improvers," perhaps one should stick to "improvising?"

^^This was my first thought.^^

God Jordan, you need a f**king hobby - or vice-versa.