|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I work hard at tolerating singular they, I really do. but if you're going to use it, ought you not try to be internally consistent with, like, objects?! here's a jarring (to me) example of a failure to do so:
..each was expected to present a short report on highlights in their respective bureaus[!sic!] since last weeks meeting. - John Lescroart, The Second Chair
I can imagine this to be the work of a lowly copy editor, but still. (if this has left you scratching your head, try substituting an actual singular pronoun such as his or her for their in the example.)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
I would have said "of their", not "in their".
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
I work hard at tolerating singular they, I really do. but
Oh, pshaw! As a feature of English grammar, from some of our best writers, for over six centuries, it should not only be tolerated but taught in grammar schools.
[!sic!]
What abomination is this? Does this mean "not sic!" or "not sic not"?
Anyway, I see what's going on, and it's interesting. Obviously, their still retains a trace of plurality, and therefore, the plural on bureaus (erm, bureaux) seems right. If I penned the sentence, though, I'd probably go with the singular bureau as well as the singular they.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
[!sic!]
What abomination is this? Does this mean "not sic!" or "not sic not"? merely emPHAsizing that the atrocity was in the original. oh, but you knew that. - joe (I get it) friday
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
..each was expected to present a short report on highlights in their respective bureaus[!sic!] since last weeks meeting. - John Lescroart, The Second Chair
Could be they are super employees / managers who all have more than one bureau each.
I'm really curious what could be a highlight in or of any bureau.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
it's San Francisco police bureaus - one Lieutenant heads each (at least in this author's conceit).
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Oh, that explains it then.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Funny, but the tsuwm "corrected" version sounds wrong to me and the printed version does not. Well, you know what they say: de gustibus nihil nisi bonum, or something like that.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3 |
de gustibus non est disputandum???
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
de gustibus non est disputandum?
Faldo was playing with two Latin sayings: (1) de gustibus nihil nisi bonum (dicendum est) "(Say) nothing about the dead, unless it's good", and (2) de gustibus non est disputandum "There's not arguing about tastes".
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,421
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
805
guests, and
3
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|