It's brake

[one-eyed_jim]

Avoid using a comma before an and.

I'm a habitual over-punctuator, but there are plenty of situations where it's perfectly reasonable for a comma to precede an "and". Sometimes clarity demands it. Sometimes it's a question of style.

 

[Kestonian]

It's aluminium.

You wouldn't call it titanum, would you?

l8rz

 

[Drencrom]

It's aluminium.

You wouldn't call it titanum, would you?

l8rz

Tit?

 

[David B]

It's aluminium.

You wouldn't call it titanum, would you?

l8rz

It was sometimes called aluminum when first discovered (logical in its own way; it is after all made from alumina, in the same way that ammonium salts are derived from ammonia). The -ium ending came about to fit in with the convention of metallic elements (except for the oldest-established ones like gold, iron, silver, copper etc.) generally having that ending to the name. Although aluminium is sometimes regarded as a "poor" or semi-metal (on account of its oxide, alumina, being amphoteric) rather than a true metal.

David

 

[MikeD]

I also find the term "asshat" highly amusing. That is all.

 

[ozpete]

Around these parts, the term 'arsecake' may be employed as a suitable substitute, but my personal favourite would the time-honoured phrase, dickhead. Asshat does, of course, have its' charms. I did find myself having a bit of a giggle over this.