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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Courts-Martial
Just heard a news announcer talk about the Courts-Martial that are starting in Iraq.
I know that that is the plural of "Court Martial" but it sounds wrong. Just like pronouncing "erred" as "urred" sounds wrong or saying "The data are..." also sounds wrong.
There are a few other terms in English that sound better pronounced incorrectly.
People who pronounce these words and phrases correctly or use the correct tense are the same people who wear bowties and are a tad strange IMHO.
I know that that is the plural of "Court Martial" but it sounds wrong. Just like pronouncing "erred" as "urred" sounds wrong or saying "The data are..." also sounds wrong.
There are a few other terms in English that sound better pronounced incorrectly.
People who pronounce these words and phrases correctly or use the correct tense are the same people who wear bowties and are a tad strange IMHO.
Top answer
[nq:1]I know that that is the plural of "Court Martial" but it sounds wrong. Just like pronouncing "erred" as "urred" sounds wrong ... [/nq] Don't forget Attorneys General.
- [nq:1]I know that that is the plural of "Court Martial" but it sounds wrong.
- Just like pronouncing "erred" as "urred" sounds wrong ...
- [/nq] Don't forget Attorneys General.
- And...
- if we had (this is probably US-specific) more than one Surgeon General, would they be Surgeons General?
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67 Answers
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[nq:1]I know that that is the plural of "Court Martial" but it sounds wrong. Just like pronouncing "erred" as "urred" sounds wrong ... words and phrases correctly or usethe correct tense are the same people who wear bowties and are atad strange IMHO.[/nq]
Don't forget Attorneys General. And... if we had (this is probably US-specific) more than one Surgeon General, would they be Surgeons Genera
Don't forget Attorneys General. And... if we had (this is probably US-specific) more than one Surgeon General, would they be Surgeons Genera
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[nq:1]Just heard a news announcer talk about the Courts-Martial that arestarting in Iraq. I know that that is the plural ... phrases correctly or use the correct tense are the same people who wear bowties and are a tad strange IMHO.[/nq]
I don't agree, but I do wonder why the word order
got frozen in that peculiarly antiquated fashion.
Was there a problem with "martial court"? I mean,
I don't agree, but I do wonder why the word order
got frozen in that peculiarly antiquated fashion.
Was there a problem with "martial court"? I mean,
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[nq:1]Don't forget Attorneys General. And... if we had (this is probably US-specific) more than one Surgeon General, would they be ... with a regular suit, or a shirt and sweater, they do tend to make one look like science teacher. NTTAWWT.[/nq]
Now that I learned how the plural works for these words, I wonder if the genitive follows the same rule:
Court's Martial idea of justice...
At
Now that I learned how the plural works for these words, I wonder if the genitive follows the same rule:
Court's Martial idea of justice...
At
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[nq:1]Just heard a news announcer talk about the Courts-Martial that arestarting in Iraq. I know that that is the plural ... and phrases correctly or use thecorrect tense are the same people who wear bowties and are a tad strange IMHO.[/nq]
I think even the ultra modernists would want to see his name written Tad Strange. I don't think he's too happy about being linked with the bowty brigade. M
I think even the ultra modernists would want to see his name written Tad Strange. I don't think he's too happy about being linked with the bowty brigade. M
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Michael West wrote on 13 May 2004:
[nq:2]Just heard a news announcer talk about the Courts-Martial that ... people who wear bowties and are a tad strange IMHO.[/nq]
Oy! Talk about strangeos calling the rest of us strangeos strange for pronouncing and using words and phrases correctly even! We've got the author of "I did it my way" to blame for this attitude.
[nq:1]I don't agree, but I
[nq:2]Just heard a news announcer talk about the Courts-Martial that ... people who wear bowties and are a tad strange IMHO.[/nq]
Oy! Talk about strangeos calling the rest of us strangeos strange for pronouncing and using words and phrases correctly even! We've got the author of "I did it my way" to blame for this attitude.
[nq:1]I don't agree, but I
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Arcadian Rises wrote on 13 May 2004:
[nq:1]Now that I learned how the plural works for these words, I wonder if the genitive follows the same rule: ... birthday... I hope I'm wrong because to my nonnative ear the above genitives sound even stranger than the plural forms.[/nq]
You're wrong. You can breathe easy.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, replace numbers w
[nq:1]Now that I learned how the plural works for these words, I wonder if the genitive follows the same rule: ... birthday... I hope I'm wrong because to my nonnative ear the above genitives sound even stranger than the plural forms.[/nq]
You're wrong. You can breathe easy.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, replace numbers w
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Ditto for Notary Public, (see public defender). Or, in a slightly different vein, Attorney General (see District Attorney).
[nq:1]Ask Liebs, he probably had something to do with it.[/nq]
As a servant public he should take issue with these vagaries of language official.
[nq:1]Ask Liebs, he probably had something to do with it.[/nq]
As a servant public he should take issue with these vagaries of language official.
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"Rushtown" (Email Removed) schrieb im Newsbeitrag
[nq:1]Just heard a news announcer talk about the Courts-Martial that arestarting in Iraq. I know that that is the plural of "Court Martial" but it sounds wrong.[/nq]
That's because you're not used to hearing it for some reason. It is, however, correct, no matter how it sounds to you, personally. Imagine the letters of protest that would fl
[nq:1]Just heard a news announcer talk about the Courts-Martial that arestarting in Iraq. I know that that is the plural of "Court Martial" but it sounds wrong.[/nq]
That's because you're not used to hearing it for some reason. It is, however, correct, no matter how it sounds to you, personally. Imagine the letters of protest that would fl
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