Which is right?

[Angel]

Is it correct to write:

"He knew he'd be back in a couple hours"?

Or should it be:

"He knew he'd be back in a couple of hours"?

Or does it depend on whether it's American or English literature?

 

[L]

Americans are known to mess grammar up, so it is probably "He knew he'd be back in a couple of hours.".

 

[Angel]

I read the sentence I posted in a Tom Clancy novel the other day and it confused me because it seemed like either an error on the part of the editor/proof reader/whoever or that it was written how someone might speak. Either way it felt unfinished as a sentence. I was just wondering if it was permitted grammar within American English?

 

[Meg]

*cracks knuckles*

The first sentence is slang and not appropriate in formal writing like a novel. (Even if it's Tom Clancy and not Mark Twain.) Unfortunately that's how a lot of Americans talk and so slang like that often gets used in writing.

Americans suck at that kind of stuff. (Like how "alright" is not actually a word, but you see it everywhere -_-.) I'm trying to write better. @.@

 

[L]

I read the sentence I posted in a Tom Clancy novel the other day and it confused me because it seemed like either an error on the part of the editor/proof reader/whoever or that it was written how someone might speak. Either way it felt unfinished as a sentence. I was just wondering if it was permitted grammar within American English?

Was a character saying it? If so, then it is instantly correct. A character could say "GFKA;DFKLJAFDKLJASLJDF" and it could be correct as long as it was put in quotations.

 

[Angel]

No, it was descriptive text otherwise I wouldn't be bothered at all.

I'm the kind of person who checks the subtitles of a film and instantly has to point out the spelling errors or the misuse of a word. Heck, I even do it when people are actually speaking to me in person and they use completely the wrong word within the context of their sentence. But in my head because I don't like getting slapped.

 

[Pancham Cutie]

I think the second one is right since that's the one I mainly say, but I do say the second one from time to time.

 

[Silverback]

The second sentence is the correct sentence.

American's, my brothers and sisters... Cousins of the USA, I love you n' all, but you can't spell for ****.

 

[sadistic_greyfox]

To echo what everyone else says, the first is just the way we speak, it's not correct grammar.

 

[Silverback]

To echo what everyone else says, the first is just the way we speak, it's not correct grammar.

Don't feel bad, brother. We still love you. We are all one Human family, with a few tyranical assholes thrown into the mix.

Also, this isn't related to the topic, but Greyfox, you make some sick signatures & avatars. Props.

 

[sadistic_greyfox]

Thanks dude, although I really dont think they are .

 

[Romero]

Is it correct to write:

"He knew he'd be back in a couple hours"?

Or should it be:

"He knew he'd be back in a couple of hours"?

Or does it depend on whether it's American or English literature?

I'm just a foreign Norwegian who barely can express myself, but my guess was the second sentence and that seems to be the consensus here.

"GFKA;DFKLJAFDKLJASLJDF"

I like your dialect, Rathit.

 

[L]

I like your dialect, Rathit.

I would say "Cool story bro" here but considering I say warsh instead of wash I feel that it's best not to say anything.