How can f'rinstance be replaced in the following? By an example?
I'll give you a f'rinstance.
Does f'rinstance mean for instance? From The Adventures of Grammar Repairman!, (subtitle A light-hearted guide for the prevention of common errors in English grammar):
F'rinstance, there's the non-word "f'rinstance."
But in the (first) sentence f'rinstance is a noun, and for instance is not a noun, it is an adverb.
It all seems straightforward, but does f'rinstance have a special meaning?
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donald remero
[ Moderator ]
Yes.
I'll give you a "for instance." [un-contracted]
- equals -
I'll give you an example.
For what it's worth: this is the first time I have ever seen "f'rinstance" in print. It is, furthermore, the first time I have ever seen this particular instance of non-standard speech singled out for ridicule.
There is no special meaning beyond what is obvious.
Certain regions of the United States are more likely to pronounce "for" as "fur" than others, which would typically say "fore" with a longer vowel sound articulated from the front of the mouth.
I happen to live in an area where we say "fur" more than "fore," so the sound of "f'rinstance" is familiar to my ear, and I certainly recognize the general nature of the problem of non-standard nominalizations of adverbs and other forms of speech. But, really, all this amounts to is a mild ridicule of a certain instance of "low speech" that is not, in fact, a particularly prevalent problem.
