this post was submitted on 25 May 2025
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Greentext

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This is a place to share greentexts and witness the confounding life of Anon. If you're new to the Greentext community, think of it as a sort of zoo with Anon as the main attraction.

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[–] M137@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago (3 children)

"the ones I spied for weeks"

Words hard, apparently.

[–] Stern@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

"only reason the doom is not doomed"

he am good word man

[–] underline960@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago

I can empathize.

I'm a native speaker and sometimes even my words refuse to English right.

[–] srestegosaurio@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Genuine question from a non native English speaker here: what's wrong?

[–] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

We would usually say "the ones I spied on". English is the only language I've ever spoken and although it sounds weird to not include the word "on", I really dont see why its necessary either.

[–] SaltSong@startrek.website 4 points 4 days ago

Because "spied for," and "spied with" are both options.

"I spied them" is a legitimate sentence, but it doesn't mean covert surveillance in that sentence, only to have seen then, generally through some difficulty.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 days ago

They left out the word "on" and the best that m137 has to contribute to the conversation is someone did a typo.

[–] underline960@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

It's supposed to be "the ones I spied on for weeks".

The ones on whom I spied for weeks. 😂

[–] Jimmycakes@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

I think that's just how British brain rot wording works. They all talk this way. Read some of their news paper headlines.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago (3 children)

unlike those American headlines

Those last two are definitely intentional.

[–] SaltSong@startrek.website 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It wasn't an American who wrote "Foot Heads Arms Body."

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago

yes but that is an incredible and brilliant piece of writing, one I'd argue outstrips Baby Shoes Never Worn