Brian M. Scott wrote:
Robert Bannister wrote:

Brian M. Scott wrote:

On Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:36:07 +1100, Peter Moylan gro.nalyomp@retep
wrote in .au
in sci.lang,alt.usage.english,sci.astro:

[...]

It seems to me that the choice between "Christian"
and "Common" is a minor detail compared with the
glaring inappropriateness of the word "Era". Surely
that means a span of years, with a beginning and an
end.

That is only one meaning. Another is 'a fixed point in
time from which a series of years is reckoned', and yet
another -- the one in use here -- is 'a system of
chronological notation computed from a given date as
basis'.

It's all confused by the way the Americans pronounce it:
"error" to non-rhotic ears.

'Americans' is much too broad: many Americans pronounce the
first syllable to rhyme with ear.


Brian

Thank you. I knew a lot of them were civilised; it's just that I keep
hearing "error" on TV.

--

Rob Bannister