Re: Grammaticaly correct sentences (or not...)

In article <fsflhq$pv4$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, sprocket <jas@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Paul wrote:

> > I had used 'decimate' in the figurative sense to mean 'to rip
> > apart', 'to destroy' or 'to severely criticise'. Is this objected
> > to? 

> If used in the sense of "destroy utterly" it's poor usage,
> "annihilate" being a better choice. No one would object to it
> referring to literal reduction by 10%, or severe punishment.
> At least you'll understand when you read about the Roman emperor who
> had a legion decimated three times for mutiny- that meant three
> rounds of killing one in ten. I'll leave you to work out how many
> survived.

729 (9 cubed) per 1000 of the original number. Actual figure unknown
unless you know the size of the legion.

-- 
New Marmite(TM): Not as thick! Not as dark! Not as te!

David - toro-danyo atcost uku fullstop co fullstop uk
http://www.toro-danyo.uku.co.uk/