Talk:regular

From summary of previous edit: "do not insert definitions in middle, just to mess up translation numbering"

Thanks for comments. I apologise for inserting and messing up numbering, and will watch out for this in future. The logical place for my addition is immediately after the first definition, but it must obviously not go there unless I correct the references. BTW, is there any way in Wiki to cross-reference comments so that they will compensate for insertions?

"Note also that new meaning is redundant with first"

No, it is exactly the opposite of the first! "Every ten years" is, strictly speaking, regular; while often, but at intervals of different length, is not. Perhaps I should add text pointing out the paradox. A pedantic point, but I take advantage of it at times (I truthfully state that I do something regularly). Pol098 03:37, 24 July 2005 (UTC) (I had logged in, but seem to have got logged out some time during the session without noticing; hence signed originally as 213.208.107.91)

Americanism?

The second definition here ("normal") seems like an Americanism to me. The only time I've seen or heard it used in the UK is in restaurants and cafes describing sizes of coffee servings etc., which probably derive from McDonald's usage (which is plainly American). Probably should be marked with "(mostly U.S.)" or something like that. Hairy Dude 15:57, 31 July 2007 (UTC)

That's what the Oxford dictionary says: http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/orexxgular?view=uk and Cambridge: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=HW*7597&dict=CLD2 I wonder if it's worth marking at all. When I'm asked if I want regular fries, I still think "no just on this occasion", but I suspect I'm one of a very few. We could always start a campaign to copy en.wiktionary to us.wiktionary.org and Anglicize the english! I think gb.wiktionary.org might be a lonely place.SeanCollins 01:37, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

"A frequent, routine visitor to an establishment."

Surely this should be expanded to include regular clients, customers, etc, and not just visitors? ---> Tooironic 09:35, 14 June 2010 (UTC)

Yes, although are clients and customers not also visitors? I can't think of an situation where one is a client/customer of an establishment that one does not visit where one would be described as a "regular".

Although, having said that, it should probably include people who regularly volunteer somewhere ("I'm a regular at the local citizens advice bureau") and I wouldn't describe them as visitors. Commuters and others who regularly catch the same service can be described as "regulars" too ("I'm a regular on the 8:15 to Paddington"). Is "regular" meaning "regular volunteer" or "regular traveller" the same sense as you are querying or are they different ones? Thryduulf (talk) 11:48, 14 June 2010 (UTC)

I was thinking more along the lines of professionals such as prostitutes, architects, interpreters, etc who might actually have regulars who do not visit them but, instead, call upon their services in another place such as their own residence. In this case they are the exact opposite of "visitors", no? ---> Tooironic 04:41, 17 June 2010 (UTC)

I don't think "a frequent client" is a different sense whether the client, the professional, both (e.g. an interpreter could regularly travel with their client to various places) or neither (e.g. telephone consultations) does the visiting. It seems more likely that "a frequent, routine customer, client, business partner, etc" is a different sense to "a frequent, routine visitor to a place or establishment". Thryduulf (talk) 08:23, 17 June 2010 (UTC)

Fair enough. Adding that sense now. Cheers. ---> Tooironic 10:56, 17 June 2010 (UTC)