"As a rule"

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

This kind of expression has probably fallen out of use somewhat since the modern world requires us to be more specific ...

I would say that, as a rule, the expression is still fairly widely used.

[Mithalwen]

Yes ... but among the young folks? I am all for preserving such things and having confused Americans by saying that had been in their country for a fortnight and had been to Chicago twice was sore tempted to add that I would remain for a sennight.... but that might have contravened the Geneva convention...

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Yes ... but among the young folks? I am all for preserving such things and having confused Americans by saying that had been in their country for a fortnight and had been to Chicago twice was sore tempted to add that I would remain for a sennight.... but that might have contravened the Geneva convention...

I'm a 17 year-old Canadian, and yet I am very familiar with "as a rule", and everyone I know would get what I was saying, were I to use it, even if they weren't familiar with the history of the phrase.

Hence, I think that "as a rule" is still an easily understood phrase, and one that is still used, not infrequently, in North America if not in Europe.

EDITED to remove some embarrassingly arrogant statements, which, fortunately for my humility, are still visible in the below quote.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

But still, I think that "as a rule" is still an easily understood phrase, and one that is still used, no infrequently.

*Sigh*... I was merely speculating because of the evidence that it was clearly not not understood. And by American I was refering to citizens of the USA and this was based on actual incidents. I did not say that noone in America understood these words - in fact I only realised there was a problem when someone started interpreting.

[Keeper of Dol Guldur]

I'm familiar with "rule of thumb", and I see the connection. But even so, a "rule of thumb" is a LOT less rigid a measurement than using an measuring instrument, like a ruler.

Rule;

1. Governing Power, authority.
2. A prescribed direction for conduct, a regulation.
3. The body of regulations prescribed by a founder.
4. Usual, customary course of action or behavior.
5. A generalized statement that describes what is true in most cases.
6. A standard method for solving a problem.
7. A subordinate regulation governing a particular matter.
8. A straight edged strip, wood, metal, etc, used for measuring lengths.

Anyway, I think Tolkien, who was a tremendous etymologist and a Professor of English, knew all the connotations, interpretations and meanings of the word rule, and I still think it makes sense.

[elronds_daughter]

Tolkien generally referred to Hobbits as if they could be easily transplanted to the twentieth century and not be noticed, excepting their size, of course.

- Apologies if that makes me sound the arrogant know-it-all. I tried to state in a factual manner what I've learned. -

(An aside Note: I'm doing a report on Tolkien and learning a great many things which I never knew before and of which I would still be ignorant if not for the joys of English class.)

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Keeper of Dol Guldur

I'm familiar with "rule of thumb", and I see the connection. But even so, a "rule of thumb" is a LOT less rigid a measurement than using an measuring instrument, like a ruler.

Rule;

1. Governing Power, authority.
2. A prescribed direction for conduct, a regulation.
3. The body of regulations prescribed by a founder.
4. Usual, customary course of action or behavior.
5. A generalized statement that describes what is true in most cases.
6. A standard method for solving a problem.
7. A subordinate regulation governing a particular matter.
8. A straight edged strip, wood, metal, etc, used for measuring lengths.

Anyway, I think Tolkien, who was a tremendous etymologist and a Professor of English, knew all the connotations, interpretations and meanings of the word rule, and I still think it makes sense.

Well I think we can agree on definition 5

[Elianna]

The phrase "as a rule" is used by the members of the Notion Club.

So the general idea is that the phrase is used to show that Hobbits are more modern?