....said the assistant when I collected my prescription this morning.
This logically would expect me to say:
“Who’s name?”
To which she might say, “your name”. (Ah. That’s better.) And I could go on to tell her:
“Well, the name was Browne with an e. Then it was Garrood. Does that help?”
It wouldn’t. Help, I mean.
And then there was the second question:
“What was the address?”
Logical answer:
“Well, the address was Bleak House, Coppenhall, Stafford.”
And that wouldn’t help, either.
Because my legal name isn’t Garrood any more, and neither do I live in Staffordshire. So why don’t they ask me what my name and address ARE?
That’s all. As the meerkat says: simples.
(I know this is common usage nowadays, but I just want to know why. That’s all.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Like you, I am always tempted to respond with my maiden name and parents' address when someone asks me like that. And every time I need to ask someone's name, I ask what their name IS.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Meike! (I'm still trying to email you, without success. Do you have a new email address?)
DeleteNo new email address, Frances. I did get your email and also replied to you.
DeleteDon't tell them Pike.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't dream of it, Captain Mainwaring.
DeleteYou really do make us think about this kind of thing, Frances - and that's good!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rosemary. The trouble is, I do it too!
DeleteWhat can I say?
ReplyDeleteWhatever you were going to say, perhaps??
Delete