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[Lombro2]

No average person is going to use "one off" as unique. They're going to use it as an "aberration".

Almost no not-so-average, published writer is going to use "one of" as an aberration. He uses it as unique because he's not in the business of selling "aberrations".

That's apparently the way it's been for over 100 years. It's a subtle difference but it's there.

ab·er·ra·tion

1. a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.

Reboot would be a good example. It was here long before PCs. Now you'd have to check every computer specialist's diary to see who, if anyone, came up with "reboot my blank". It's not technically a restart as in the way it is used mostly today. Restart is just turning it back on or off and on.

[Herlock Sholmes]

No average person is going to use "one off" as unique. They're going to use it as an "aberration".

Almost no not-so-average, published writer is going to use "one of" as an aberration. He uses it as unique because he's not in the business of selling "aberrations".

That's apparently the way it's been for over 100 years. It's a subtle difference but it's there.

ab·er·ra·tion

1. a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.

Reboot would be a good example. It was here long before PCs. Now you'd have to check every computer specialist's diary to see who, if anyone, came up with "reboot my blank". It's not technically a restart as in the way it is used mostly today. Restart is just turning it back on or off and on.

I thought we went over this weeks ago Lombro. I use "unique" as a shorthand for all the shades of meaning of "one off" to save me having to type out a string of synonyms each time.

100 years ago was 1925, so that gets you nowhere with respect to Maybrick writing the diary, but, at that stage, "one off" wasn't used by the "average person" at all. It was a manufacturing term only, not one in common use in the English language. It didn't suggest an aberration at all at that time. It was a reference to a single, unique manufactured product, pattern or job. As has been demonstrated many times, it only entered common usage in the English language after the Second World War when the type of use by "the average person" that you're thinking of commenced.

Will this ever sink in Lombro?

[Lombro2]

Average persons picked it up and Maybrick was not an average person. He was in trade and manufacture. Even Michael Barrett would know that.

I would just give him credit for that and say it fits very well. No bumbling here from your buffoon.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Average persons picked it up and Maybrick was not an average person. He was in trade and manufacture. Even Michael Barrett would know that.

I would just give him credit for that and say it fits very well. No bumbling here from your buffoon.

Maybrick, as a commodities broker, was essentially in Finance. He wasn't involved in manufacturing. But I was talking about the meaning of "one off" in 1925. It didn't mean a single unique manufactured product etc in 1888.

And you can't just say things and expect people to believe you. Please provide some evidence of "an average person" in or around 1888 picking up (to use your expression) "one off" to mean something unique or not to be repeated. When you fail to do so perhaps you will finally accept that it was an impossibility.

[Lombro2]

Sorry I don’t know anybody, average or otherwise, from 1888.

I only know people from 1988. My friend’s example was spoken, of course, or a private thought.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Sorry I don’t know anybody, average or otherwise, from 1888.

I only know people from 1988. My friend’s example was spoken, of course, or a private thought.

By 1988 "one off" was a common expression in the English language. It wasn't in 1888. That's the difference.

Therefore - the diary is a proven forgery.