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Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 12:14 pm
by Tyler
Is there any rhyme or reason to the answer?

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 12:59 pm
by Staley
It's 3 words, plus articles modifying them--but the 3 words are also articles: a the, an a, or an an.

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 1:16 pm
by Tyler
Thanks for the explanation. I must have been absent that day :lol:

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 1:45 pm
by Justme
Tyler I was absent that day too ;)

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 2:37 pm
by Charlene
Me, three :D

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 3:37 pm
by Paucle
yeah, it was a bit clumsy, sorry about that. Made more sense if commas were properly placed and quote marks allowed.

What unnecessary word(s) has/have been cropping up on many TI answers of late?
Answer: a "the," an "a," or an "an.
"

(The self-referential irony was intentional.)

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 4:44 pm
by Staley
It turned out to be fairly easy for me, because I started by plugging "little words" into each blank, to give me a start. I put "the" in every position, and that gave me word 2. Then I put "a" in the other positions, and that gave me 2 more. Since it was working so well, I tried "an" and it was easy to figure out.

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 5:13 pm
by Paucle
that's why I was hoping it wouldn't be too hard to suss out. I assume everyone does that on long answers, especially on titles. Find where any "the"s might be, and the going can get much easier. Follow the with "a," etc etc.

Similarly, on any Presidential answer of two words, I always try "John Johnson" first, then "William Adams." If still no hits, I finish with "James Roosevelt." If I don't fill any blanks yet, I've eliminated almost half of them anyway. From there I cherry pick first/ last, like "Richard Obama." I don't think I've actually researched a POTUS answer in years. :lol:

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:17 pm
by Charlene
After reading these posts, I find we are quite alike ;)

Re: Unnecessary words

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:24 pm
by Sonja
Charlene wrote:After reading these posts, I find we are quite alike ;)
Great minds! Charlene ;)