Another new variant

[Bayleaf]

I hate to say this, but the last major pandemic - the so-called Spanish flu - took 6 years to peter out...

And there were less people travelling back then, there were less people, full stop.

[rsm]

Not so sure about less people travelling as it was spread by troops during ww1

[RobertArthur]

....from a military training camp across the Atlantic to Europe. Spanish flu? No, probably the Kansas or Texas flu.

[ajm]

Not so sure about less people travelling as it was spread by troops during ww1

Sorry to be pedantic but can we use "fewer" rather than "less"

[niemeyjt]

You need to be fewer pedantic.

[rsm]

you could if I wasn't copying bayleafs words

[exile]

It irks me too, but I always ask myself, no matter what the spelling, no matter what the grammar faux pas, can I understand what the poster meant? If the answer is yes, then better to accept than create an unnecessary critique which detracts from the flow of the posts.

Only if there there is doubt created as to what was posted would I criticise.

[Pathca]

I could be pedantic and point out the lack of Bayleafs upper case B

[MAD87]

and I could be further and maddeningly pedantic and point out that without an apostrophe, it should be Bayleaves. Like on the tree, innit.

[Bayleaf]

I could also be pedantic and say shouldn't there be an apostrophe after Bayleaf? As in Bayleaf's? (Crossed with you MAD )

Anyhoo - that'll teach me to make a flippant comment, showing up my awful history knowledge. From a book I once read about being a good listener (and reader): If you know basically what the person is saying, despite them using a slightly incorrect word or pronounciation, let it go!