WITH a general election expected soon, party leaders are talking about “winnable candidates”. Are candidates in such excess supply that some need to be raffled off? If I were to win a candidate, what could I do with my prize? If it were a lady, I suppose dinner and conversation would be appropriate; if a gentleman, I would not be short of ideas – my lawn needs trimming, for example.

But perhaps the politicians meant candidates with winning potential. “Win” so succinctly conveys triumph that it is natural to want to associate that adjective with one’s party’s candidates. But I have grave doubt that “winnable” can be used, as my opening paragraph tries to show.

What about “winsome”? Attractiveness is an advantage but no guarantee of success. Or “winning”? Unfortunately, “winning” is usually used after the fact. Thailand’s prime minister, Madam Yingluck Shinawatra, is someone qualifying simultaneously for both labels.

How about “strong candidates”, as in “strong contenders”? Ah, yes, but that’s giving up too easily on “win”. All right, here’s a suggestion: “winner candidates”. At race tracks, doesn’t one overhear “I’m betting on that sure winner”?

Thus, with “winner”, you still get to insert “win” and we are spared the yuck-inducing “winnable”. A “win-win” solution! – I.Ho

The storey continues

I write this in reference to the query, “First floor or second level?” (MOE, Nov 10).

I am from Penang and know of the building onto which the crane fell and killed someone.

The building was not a double-storey but a three-storey prewar shophouse. It had a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor. The poor soul was sleeping on the top or the third storey.

I concur with Fadzilah Amin’s intuition of the confused Malaysian public in identifying floors. I faced a similar quandary recently.

I could not find the ground-floor button in a lift and brought this up with the building management. Greeted with cynicism, I was duly chided for still carrying the colonial baggage of the past.

I was told to be aware of the present world power that permeates all facets of life, now that the British idiom has faded into the sunset. – Terrence Reutens

• Survey: Britons love tea more than coffee
• New York City relies on automation technologies to face challenges of urbanisation
• Oil palm firms team up with Sabah to protect Malua Forest Reserve
• Powering the Big Apple
• Build robust cities
• Fun with words
• Rail marvel in New York
• Fun with synonyms
• Carnegie Hall gets green facelift
• Win The Good Food Cook Book!

Latest Jobs from Star-Jobs