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Word alterations

Posted by David FG on October 11, 2004

In Reply to: Word alterations posted by word alterations on October 11, 2004

: Is it common to say-
: a *giggle* of girls meaning a group of girls giggling?

:

: and

: He is a workaholic:he *averages* twelve hours working in the office?

:
: Is *average* commonly used that way

: thanks

'Giggle of girls' is not, I think, in common usage, but it has a certain something. It has presumably been invented either by this author (or someone else) as a convenient collective noun.

'Averages' is often used that way (at least in the UK). It is perhaps not the most elegant of uses, but it is very common.

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