Aug. 25th, 2010

An unintentionally frustrating conversation I had a few minutes ago:

Jane Doe: "Hi, I'm Jane Doe calling from Landlord Company. We'd like to send some people over to do the work in your living room that we have on file. We'd like to send them over within an hour. Is that okay?"
Me: "Actually, I'm out of the house for the next half-hour, but if they could wait until after that, I'll be home."
Jane Doe: "Right, sure. So I'll tell them it's okay to come within an hour."
Me: "But not within the next half-hour, right? Because no one will be home for a half-hour."
Jane Doe: "But that's perfect. If you're home in a half-hour and they come in an hour, then there's no problem."
Me: "...Right."
Jane Doe: "Okay, so they'll be over within an hour."

Today's grammar public service announcement: within =/= in. Learn it. Love it. Keep your clients happy.
(And, for those who are thinking it, this woman is anglophone. I would have given leeway if her mother tongue was something other than English.)

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