Come as you are

[Voboy]

Multiple possible answers. I'm happy with 'are'.

Not at all.

You don't modify a singular noun with a plural verb. "Which of" is a contraction for "which one of," and there's no noun more singular than "one."

Don't take it personally. I only do this sort of thing on threads that are asking about grammar. I enjoy the irony.

As for your actual question, it arises periodically on the AH. The consensus seems to be, as you'd put it, that there are "multiple possible answers." Though I'd side with 2 and 4, myself.

 

[Zenith77]

Not at all.

You don't modify a singular noun with a plural verb. "Which of" is a contraction for "which one of," and there's no noun more singular than "one."

Don't take it personally. I only do this sort of thing on threads that are asking about grammar. I enjoy the irony.

As for your actual question, it arises periodically on the AH. The consensus seems to be, as you'd put it, that there are "multiple possible answers." Though I'd side with 2 and 4, myself.

Yeah, thanks.

"Which of" is not necessarily a contraction of "which one of". It could equally be "which ones of".

If it's good enough for the New York Times and the BBC it's good enough for me. Still happy with 'are'.

 

[djrip]

Yeah, thanks.

"Which of" is not necessarily a contraction of "which one of". It could equally be "which ones of".

If it's good enough for the New York Times and the BBC it's good enough for me. Still happy with 'are'.

It's either "which one of these" or "which ones of these" depending on if multiple answers can be correct or if only one can be. In this case multiple answers can be correct so it's"which ones of these choices are correct?"

 

[Zenith77]

It's either "which one of these" or "which ones of these" depending on if multiple answers can be correct or if only one can be. In this case multiple answers can be correct so it's"which ones of these choices are correct?"

Mmm.

 

[djrip]

Mmm.

In other words I vote for your position in this debate, but it's not an ok either way situation, it's only correct with "are" in this particular case.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I dunno. Guess it sort of depends on the thingo I'm trying to get over to the reader.

Seriously, cum is slang. Treat the word like any other slang word. If you're writing about people Em's age, they all cum. Any older than 30, it's up to you to decide how your character speaks.

The era also would have an impact. During my research of ancient texts (Color Climax, Exciting, Juggs...) I don't recall ever seeing "cum" written down.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Funny reading this thread. Is it my age? I can’t ever recall come being used instead of cum.

I’m cumming = I’m orgasmimg.

I’m coming = I’ll be right there.

Or iz aye juss aliterait?

Em

Generational, American. Cum came into common usage in the nineties, I think, but the twentieth century usage (both English and American English) was predominantly come.

 

[SimonDoom]

Not at all.

You don't modify a singular noun with a plural verb. "Which of" is a contraction for "which one of," and there's no noun more singular than "one."

I'm gonna go with Zenith on this one, because the question doesn't necessarily assume that only one can be the answer. In fact, it's obvious that more than one MUST be correct, so there's no implied "one." The word "ones," not "one," is implied. Since there can be more than one correct answer, the plural verb is correct.

It's like if you're standing in front of a herd of brown and white horses. Asking, "Which of these are brown?" is the correct question because you are asking someone to identify many horses, not one.

 

[SimonDoom]

Generational, American. Cum came into common usage in the nineties, I think, but the twentieth century usage (both English and American English) was predominantly come.

Even today, I think, I don't think "cum" would be commonly used over "come" in writing that is not porny-erotic.

I consulted my published erotic fiction stash for this one. 50 Shades uses "come." I think most other published fiction does the same, but don't hold me to that. "Cum" is more casual, and more vulgar. "Come" would be acceptable in just about any type of fiction that features sex.

 

[SimonDoom]

I feel very young on this thread.

Not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.



Em

As long as you feel 18+ you're good to go.

 

[Zootonius]

Whole new meaning if you reverse the order,

vidi vici veni

 

[ElectricBlue]

Even today, I think, I don't think "cum" would be commonly used over "come" in writing that is not porny-erotic.

I consulted my published erotic fiction stash for this one. 50 Shades uses "come." I think most other published fiction does the same, but don't hold me to that. "Cum" is more casual, and more vulgar. "Come" would be acceptable in just about any type of fiction that features sex.

I like that you have a research oriented smut fiction stash, very highbrow. Mind you, I can't talk, but I don't pretend it's for consultative purposes, just a bit awkward for the family bookshelves.

You've got 50 Shades just so you've got the women's angle covered, right? But you've not read past the first ten pages?

 

[SimonDoom]

You've got 50 Shades just so you've got the women's angle covered, right? But you've not read past the first ten pages?

I read the whole damn trilogy because even if it's not good I don't like to leave something unfinished.

The story about reading 50 Shades was kind of funny. I was fairly recently divorced and checking online dating sites and I noticed that all these well-heeled women listed that book on their lists of recently-read books. I'd never heard of it but figured I should to know what was going on.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I read the whole damn trilogy because even if it's not good I don't like to leave something unfinished.

The story about reading 50 Shades was kind of funny. I was fairly recently divorced and checking online dating sites and I noticed that all these well-heeled women listed that book on their lists of recently-read books. I'd never heard of it but figured I should to know what was going on.

I'm impressed!

I've never read it, nor seen the movies, although I vaguely recall women reading it on the bus and in cafes on their lunch hour. That grey cover...

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm impressed!

I've never read it, nor seen the movies, although I vaguely recall women reading it on the bus and in cafes on their lunch hour. That grey cover...

Don't bother. If you're interested in pop BDSM fiction, you can do a Google search for better versions of the same thing. I saw the first of the movies and was bored.

The problem for me, aside from the dreadful writing, is that it's not real BDSM. It's a standard gothic romance with a veneer of BDSM. It's not a bad concept, but it goes off the rails fast, and the Christian character is neither believable nor very likable.

I do give 50 Shades credit for this: it was my intro to bondage, and I've dabbled in it off and on since then. I learned some Shibari techniques. You learn a lot about where you stand with a woman when you tell her you want to tie her up.

 

[ronde]

(... as you were, as I want you to be)

Quick poll.

Which of these are correct (only from the perspective of how to spell come/cum - I appreciate none of the lines are correct in some contexts):

1) I'll let you come if you're a good girl
2) I'll let you cum if you're a good girl
3) I don't like the taste of come.
4) I don't like the taste of cum.

I'm asking here because I wrote in to my local church's newspaper with this very question, but sadly it didn't get published.

Cheers,

Z.

I tend to adapt my writing to the characters and situations.

Men will use "cum" if talking to other men or thinking to themselves about either the male or female orgasm and the resulting male emission.
Men talking to what I'll call "proper" for lack of a better word, will use orgasm and "seed". I do that because most of my female characters aren't that free with their use of slang.
My "proper"female characters talking to both men and women will use euphemisms.
My female characters who are a quite a bit wild will use "cum" for both the orgasm and what they're filled with. It helps to establish their personality.

"Come" is always a verb for me. I'll write "cumming", not "coming".

As for "cummed", that just sounds strange to me. I deviate from the past tense and write "came".

 

[ElectricBlue]

"Come" is always a verb for me. I'll write "cumming", not "coming".

As for "cummed", that just sounds strange to me. I deviate from the past tense and write "came".

That seems Inconsistent to me, particularly since you use came, which is the past tense of come. Cum seems to add a layer of complication in my head, and has the association with dumpster, which is never nice (cheap and tacky).

Each to their own .

 

[HordHolm]

Well, quite. I mean, why is it hid-e-ous and court-e-ous, but it's glor-i-ous and prev-i-ous? There is literally no logical reason for that, other than to fuck with people who don't speak English as a first language.

Try teaching it...

 

[Zenith77]

Try teaching it...

Been there. I've got kids.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Funny reading this thread. Is it my age? I can’t ever recall come being used instead of cum.

I’m cumming = I’m orgasmimg.

I’m coming = I’ll be right there.

Or iz aye juss aliterait?

Em

Your age. I'd never seen cum (the word!) until the 90s, and even then it was generally only in porn mags not anything purporting to be literature. Cum is Latin for 'with', in my book, though a few of my characters use it.

Besides, it ruins my favourite joke:
"What's white and flies through the air at the speed of light?'
"The coming of the Lord."

 

[Voboy]

Besides, it ruins my favourite joke:
"What's white and flies through the air at the speed of light?'
"The coming of the Lord."

Still works verbally.

I use "cum" exclusively when writing about sex, mostly because I think that's how the language has evolved/is evolving. I do agree that the past tense presents a problem, which I avoid by using a substitute; fortunately, English offers us a plethora of ways to say "he ejaculated" without having to settle on cum or its tenses.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I was born in 97, so that explains a lot!

Em

 

[neuroparenthetical]

For me, being old school erotica, it's come for both. As Simon says, cummed is an abomination, it just reads to me that someone can't spell.

Sure, but I'd really rather not write "come from my ass like a bitch" and immediately think of an outgoing turd with an attitude problem.

English can 100% tolerate "came" as the simple past tense of "cum." As languages go, it's the champion of doing stupid shit like that. Still, let's be Shakespeares. What are some good alternatives to that simple past conjugation that preserve the usefulness of "cum" as the sex verb? Maybe we should also take a moment to contemplate whether ejaculate-free orgasms deserve their own special word.

I'll get the ball rolling. Since the objection with "cummed" seems strongly linked to the visual, how about "culmed?" Culmination is a climax of sorts, after all. Maybe we should switch the "c" to a "k," thus opening up the possibility space. Everything is back on the table, then - "kame," for example - but what about "kerm" or "kurmed?" All apologies to our little green friend. No, the other one.

 

[Voboy]

Sure, but I'd really rather not write "come from my ass like a bitch" and immediately think of an outgoing turd with an attitude problem.

English can 100% tolerate "came" as the simple past tense of "cum." As languages go, it's the champion of doing stupid shit like that. Still, let's be Shakespeares. What are some good alternatives to that simple past conjugation that preserve the usefulness of "cum" as the sex verb? Maybe we should also take a moment to contemplate whether ejaculate-free orgasms deserve their own special word.

I'll get the ball rolling. Since the objection with "cummed" seems strongly linked to the visual, how about "culmed?" Culmination is a climax of sorts, after all. Maybe we should switch the "c" to a "k," thus opening up the possibility space. Everything is back on the table, then - "kame," for example - but what about "kerm" or "kurmed?" All apologies to our little green friend. No, the other one.

Cumt.

Like dreamt.

 

[XerXesXu]

Work Wrought
Cum Cmought