"Forever" in this context is an adverb. The Oxford English Dictionary says the two-word version can mean either eternally, continually, or incessantly, but it has a half-dozen citations, beginning as far back as the 17th century, for the one-word version used in both senses. And the one-word version is listed first. 1 decade ago. Can people lie on their resume saying that they have a high school diploma when they don't?Can employers verify having a highschool diploma? When describing an exaggerated amount of time should one say "for forever" or "forever"? The one-word version first appeared in a 1670 satire by John Eachard that expressed “honest and hearty wishes that the best of our Clergy might forever continue as they are.” By the 1800s, however, sticklers were complaining about the one-word version. Can a single card have multiple activations on a stack? You can sign in to vote the answer. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed. I'm writing a peom, and this is waht it says. In the former usage, "forever" is used as a noun. For ever (printed so) “for about one year” or “for around one year”. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. How to redefine \end to be compatible with tabular environments. By the 1800s, however, sticklers were complaining about the one-word version. forever is made out of 2 words--- for and ever. What could cause SQL Server to deny execution of a SP at first, but allow it later with no privileges change? "Now we're mending back together. rev 2020.11.12.37996, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, English Language & Usage Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. I'm writing a peom, and this is waht it says. The two-word version, according to OED citations, is by far the oldest, first showing up around 1300 in Cursor Mundi, a Middle English poem: “This folk … that suld vs serue for euer and ai” (“This folk … that should us serve for ever and always”). When did the Altair move ROM to the top of memory? Why are you “reading” a particular subject at university? Who "spent four years refusing to accept the validity of the [2016] election"? 6 Answers. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. It only takes a minute to sign up. In fact, Garner’s Modern American Usage (3rd ed.) Are getting more job opportunities a good reason to get a GED? Q: I seem to recall reading somewhere that “forever” means continually and “for ever” means eternally. Grammar, etymology, usage, and more, brought to you by Patricia T. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). What is the reason for the date of the Georgia runoff elections for the US Senate? just forever is correct. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. VS. forever is made out of 2 words--- for and ever. I have a laptop with an HDMI port and I want to use my old monitor which has VGA port. What are the arguments behind the “literally”/“figuratively” usage divide? Job offers - how to negotiate higher salary due to higher costs of living at the new location. A: In American English, the one-word version is the only version for the adverb meaning continually, incessantly, or eternally. To wrap up BoltClock's answer, the correct use for your intended meaning is in sentence two. Is there objective proof that Jo Jorgensen stopped Trump winning, like a right-wing Ralph Nader? It does not describe how long you have been waiting; instead, as a noun, it represents what you're waiting for. How is this fair? You could also say that it's basically "for ever" without the space. In other words, it means you're waiting for forever, as in the period of time itself, which may itself either refer to an indeterminate point in time in the future or an indefinitely long duration of time. In other words, the British seem to be coming around to the American usage here. Favorite Answer. The Cambridge Dictionaries Online, the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, and the other British dictionaries we checked list “forever” and “for ever” for all senses in their British editions. not for forever. Get your answers by asking now. ), and all the other standard US dictionaries we checked agree on this. Is it correct grammar to say "for forever" or "forever"? Can a druid use Wild Shape in mid-air to survive being dropped? Answer Save. Check out our books about the English language. I checked my dictionary and it only has the one-word version. We’ll end with an excerpt from “Forever,” a poem by Charles Stuart Calverley, one of the 19th-century complainers: Forever; ’tis a single word! Forever! How do you think about the answers? What is the word used to express "investigating someone without their knowledge"? Feature Preview: New Review Suspensions Mod UX. how to extract index of first alphabetic character of line in awk. . Enter your email address to subscribe to the blog by email. How were the cities of Milan and Bruges spared by the Black Death? 'Crazy train': GOP lawmaker rips Trump's fraud claims, Disney CEO 'extremely disappointed' in Calif. leaders, Yang dismayed by Asian American reaction to Trump, Senator's 'tone deaf' tweet on Lakers, Dodgers slammed, Strategist warns of big Dow drop in event of lockdown, COVID-19 vaccine may have unpleasant side effects, Tom Brady loses jet skis in Tropical Storm Eta, CDC outlines which masks are most effective, A close look at Trump campaign election lawsuits, Former 'DWTS' pro felt lost after Seacrest breakup, AOC calls Biden's new chief of staff a 'unifying pick'. Relevance. As such, if you're saying that you have been waiting for a very long time, then the latter usage is right. As such, if you're saying that you have been waiting for a very long time, then the latter usage is right. When should you use “to” following a “why”? If you are an old subscriber and not getting posts, please subscribe again. What abysms of woe Doesn't your first sentence sound a bit, weird? The one-word version first appeared in a 1670 satire by John Eachard that expressed “honest and hearty wishes that the best of our Clergy might forever continue as they are.”. the great malayan by carlos quirino moral lesson? Can you imagine so absurd The argument being that the word "forever" is in itself a period of time, or it isn't. When should one use either word? How do I fix a consistent micro-timing error? Do I need HDMI-to-VGA or VGA-to-HDMI adapter? What is the difference between a spell with a range of "Self" and a spell with a range of "Self (XYZ)"? Has there been a naval battle where a boarding attempt backfired? Forever Definition: for all of eternity (US always one word - UK- either for ever or forever) It would be wrong to say for for ever :P its a poem though so it don't really matter much. Is it correct grammar to say "for forever" or "forever"? site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Best approach to safely bump up version of classes, How to deal with a younger coworker who is too reliant on online sources. Why do these angles look weird in my logo? What will be my GPA after this semester? Our rude forefathers deem’d it two: Purchase price/cost/worth/value/… — which one? ), Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed. You could also say that it's basically "for ever" without the space. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. "Forever" in this context is an adverb. Why some classes at different universities are easier than other? ? It's fine how it is. Did not. In British English, the situation isn’t quite so simple. But, wait, the latest Fowler’s (the revised third edition) says the one-word version means continually or persistently and the two-worder means eternally—except in the US, where one word can do for all those senses. A view? The word reveals, what frenzy, what The lexicographers at standard British dictionaries, however, don’t generally buy that arbitrary approach. Should one say “for forever” or “forever”? In the former usage, "forever" is used as a noun. I'm writing a peom, and this is waht it says, "Now we're mending back together, And I hope it lasts forever." Nemosis. It's a poem, grammer doesn't really matter. Still have questions? By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. says “the solidified version has become standard in both AmE and BrE, and the two-word version is best described as archaic.”. Does learning the same spell from different sources allow it to benefit from bonuses from all sources? Is there really a difference or is the one-word version enough for both senses? Despair! The original 1926 edition of Fowler’s Modern English Usage doesn’t mention the issue, but the 1965 second edition insists on the two-word version. What are recommended ways to connect fridge ice maker?