Dennis Paulson posted:

"A recent posting caught me in an iconoclastic mood (I only feel this way
about 16 hours each day).

It was written (no names, to protect the innocent), "Yesterday I had my
first Vaux's Swift of the year." Is there anyone else out there who
objects to the verb "to have" to describe an encounter with a bird? This
has become so common, just another one of the many things about the English
language that make us old purists flinch. Believe me, no offense meant to
the perpetrator; just about everyone does it, and you just reminded me of
it!"

Dennis, you old purist, you. The English language, she is still evolving.
However, in this case I think we can blame the ABA/listing syndrome.
You're right; rather than defending what is going to be archaic English we
should be decrying the whole obsessive/compulsive ticking & listing
mindset. I think the ABA should require that all listers know three solid
facts about a bird before they "count" it.

Curmudgeonly yours,
Herb Curl

h.curl at hazmat.noaa.gov "You may be only young once
but you can be
Hazmat/NOAA, 7600 Sand Pt. Wy., NE immature the rest of your life."
Seattle, WA 98115-0070
(206) 526-6272