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  1. Francis de Aguilar

    Francis de Aguilar Contributor Contributor

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    How should this be written?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Francis de Aguilar, May 7, 2018.

    I have used the expression wrong-un' as in "He's a wrong-un' " I suppose it's a contraction of 'wrong one', but I am unsure how to write it.
     
  2. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    Wouldn't it be easier and clearer to just say "He's wrong"? It seems like you're trying to get creative here, but your example just sounds confusing and a little weird to me.
     
  3. Francis de Aguilar

    Francis de Aguilar Contributor Contributor

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    No. It’s a fairly common thing to hear in England.
     
  4. GiveMeBackMyMagic

    GiveMeBackMyMagic Member

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    I'd write it wrong-un
     
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  5. Midge23

    Midge23 Active Member

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    Oxford Dictionary goes for wrong’un.
     
  6. TwistedHelix

    TwistedHelix Member

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    While it is common in England - many American readers might get confused. If you go self-pub you will have dozens of yanks clicking that error button and Amazon will slam you for it despite it being a genuine phrase.
     
  7. OB1

    OB1 Active Member

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    In the UK a Wrong-un is used to describe someone who has/is either:

    - A dirty mind
    - A bad person, someone you wouldn't want to hang around with.
    - A bit of a sadist

    Not that they are wrong in the right and wrong sense, but rather wrong in the head.

    I would put Wrong-un if it fits. There are plenty of Americanisms that us limies don't understand too, so screw-em!!
     
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  8. Francis de Aguilar

    Francis de Aguilar Contributor Contributor

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    Absolutely. In this case the the wrong’ un in question is a serial rapist and child abuser.
     
  9. OB1

    OB1 Active Member

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    In that case maybe WRONG-UN is too light hearted. I don't know.
     
  10. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    No, we would not get confused. Lighten up on the pidgeonholing, thank you. It's a perfectly parseable construction, clearly related in form to youngun' and younguns', which are as common as muck in the U.S.A.
     
  11. Francis de Aguilar

    Francis de Aguilar Contributor Contributor

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    In the context, it is an impression rather than certain knowledge.

    “Sorry, Maisie.” Gemma told her about Olivia and their chat. “I have her number, we could ask her to help out, she knows this fucker is a wrong 'un, said as much.”
     
  12. TwistedHelix

    TwistedHelix Member

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    Im an evidence kind of person. The first reply clearly showed they didn't understand the phrase.

    It could cause problems to American readers - at least one.

    I never said all Americans and I wasn't pigeonholing, but writing to a key audience is a known issue. If you write to sell in USA then you edit your book to their terminologies and colloquialisms.

    Anyway, usually standing up for oneself in forums against mods usually leads to a ban, so guess time to say bye bye.
     
  13. OB1

    OB1 Active Member

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    The only evidence you had was one person saying something out of context. If the OP was to put his sentence in at the start, might have made more sense.

    Doubt you'd get banned, one is allowed to disagree.

    As far as colloquialisms are concerned it depends on where the book is set. If the book is set in England then they should be using the English colloquialism and if it is set in America then they should use the american colloquialism, but that is just my opinion for what it's worth.
     
  14. Francis de Aguilar

    Francis de Aguilar Contributor Contributor

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    I
    It is set in London UK.
     
  15. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    I think wrong ‘un.

    (American here. No confusion about meaning.)
     
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  16. hvysmker

    hvysmker Banned

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    I'd say wrong'un. I like to dabble in dialects. I don't consider it difficult using phonetics. The secret, I believe, is to change only a few words, not overdo it. That and be careful to have the speaker speak consistently. He can't say, for instant, "an" sometimes and "and" others.

    I find having one speaker using a specific dialect and others speaking slightly differently is a good way to eliminate a lot of speechtags. Lemme see now ... thinking ... damn it ... thinking:

    John. Come over here a minute, please. You too, Elmer.
    Yessir, boss. Wa's up?
    Didn't I tell you and Elmer to clean out that shed out back?
    Uh huh, boss. We's gonna do it ... after lunch ok?
    You just make certain you get it done today, you hear me?
    Duh, Mr. Johnson. Kin I keep dos magazines in'a shed? Huh, Mr. Johnson.
    I don't care what you so with them, Elmer.
    Okey, Mr. Johnson. Uh, sure.
    Come on, guy. Les'us go to lunch. We'll be back, sir.

    See, that's one way to avoid many speech tags. Also, you can have several or more people speaking together without strict alternation.

    Charlie -- hvysmker.
     
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