Is it off or of?upid

jwest · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:12

Everyone in my office, when there talking about quantities say "7 off" or when it's written down, they would write 11 off for example. Surely its 15 of, as in 15 of something.

Now to me that sounds retarded, is it possible they are all stupid? Or is it that I have been saying it wrong my whole life.

Also it is not just in my office, people seem to be doing it everywhere, it just doesn't make sense.

Craig321 · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:16

guyfawkes5 · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:16

You seem to be correct.

'Off' would only be correct if they were talking in the sense of taking something away, i.e. '5 off 30, leaving 25'.

guyfawkes5 · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:17

Craig321 said:
Wow.

Are you of your game? This is a serious matter.

Castiel · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:17

It's of, not off in the example you describe.

[FnG]magnolia · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:20

'Of'.

What on earth does the thread title mean though :confused:

jwest · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:21

Wonderful.

Case closed, I can go ahead and correct them without feeling silly.

Cosimo · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:22

You are correct, of.

Craig321 · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:22

guyfawkes5 said:
Are you of your game? This is a serious matter.

Using 'of' and 'off'' in the wrong places is probably the only type of incorrect grammar that really grinds my gears.

Also, when that guy from Radio 1 says "that was <name> off of <location>".

Eugh

Morgoth · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:23

In this case the correct answer is "of?upid".

Jokester · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:23

It is off, don't ask me why, but off is what is used in our office as well.

Nossmayo · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:24

Hold on, I thought off in the context of quantity is correct, though im no expert. Im sure someone who is will confirm shortly.

Jokester · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:25

http://eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=265053&page=1

jwest · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:25

Morgoth said:
In this case the correct answer is "of?upid".

Im sorry, You havn't used upid in the correct context.

Luke · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:25

Jokester said:
It is off, don't ask me why, but off is what is used in our office as well.

Your office is also wrong then.

Craig321 · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:25

Someone's going to have to link me to an 'official' article or something for me to believe it is actually 'off'. It makes no sense!

Craig

jwest · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:27

Woa, this goes way beyond my insignificant life. Thread offically blown open.

TheCenturion · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:28

half of 2 is 1
There's 15% off this t shirt!
Do you want 2 of these cakes fatty?

Kenai · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:29

It's 'off', similar to how you would describe something unique as a 'one off', not a 'one of'.

I'm not sure why it's like that but it's been around a long time, you'll notice it more around construction/engineering/military circles.

Jokester · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:29

Nossmayo said:
Hold on, I thought off in the context of quantity is correct, though im no expert. Im sure someone who is will confirm shortly.

We use "off" in the context of material take offs, such as 7 off widgets for example.