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"is all" vs "that's all"

  • 20-11-2012 06:34PM
    #1
    seanp_25
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 230 ✭✭


    I've noticed people recently (mostly from America I think) online and in TV programs saying "is all" where I'd usually say "that's all".

    "I'm just a bit tired is all"

    "I'm just a bit tired... that's all."

    The first time I read it on a forum it seemed completely wrong, but I saw it lately being used in an episode of Homeland, it was on the subtitles too.

    So are both correct? Is "is all" a new thing? I've only noticed it being used in the past 18 months or so.


Comments

  • #2
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,210 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    seanp_25 wrote: »
    I've noticed people recently (mostly from America I think) online and in TV programs saying "is all" where I'd usually say "that's all".

    "I'm just a bit tired is all"

    "I'm just a bit tired... that's all."

    The first time I read it on a forum it seemed completely wrong, but I saw it lately being used in an episode of Homeland, it was on the subtitles too.

    So are both correct? Is "is all" a new thing? I've only noticed it being used in the past 18 months or so.

    I think I've been saying And hearing both for as long as I can remember.

    A small pain is all that's wrong with me
    Tiredness is all that's keeping me from going out


    I'm not sure, thinking about it, if your first sentence is grammatically correct but I'm so used to it that I wouldn't even consider it might be wrong.


  • #3
    Columbia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,494 ✭✭✭Columbia


    (A guess)

    The difference between the sentences is that "that" is dropped. "That" is often left out in speech with no effect, but sometimes looks less correct when dropped in written language, which as a general thing is more formal than speech.

    "I knew he was going"

    "I knew that he was going".

    On that basis I'd say both are grammatically correct, but dropping "that" in written English is poor style.


  • #4
    Skid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,873 ✭✭✭Skid


    seanp_25 wrote: »
    I've noticed people recently (mostly from America I think) online and in TV programs saying "is all" where I'd usually say "that's all".

    "I'm just a bit tired is all"

    "I'm just a bit tired... that's all."

    The first time I read it on a forum it seemed completely wrong, but I saw it lately being used in an episode of Homeland, it was on the subtitles too.

    So are both correct? Is "is all" a new thing? I've only noticed it being used in the past 18 months or so.

    The first time I heard 'is all' being used like that was in The West Wing. It sounds wrong to me, very clunky.


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