senioirty

Question

Is this question asked naturally?How would an English speaker say it?Who is the oldest in terms of seniority in the company.I am the oldest in terms of seniority in the company.Thanks

GPY · Accepted Answer

"oldest in terms of seniority" is a somewhat confusing concept. Are you are talking about the person's age in years? The number of years they have worked for the company? Some other measure of seniority, such as rank within the company?

Anonymous · Answer

I am talking about the number of years they have worked for the company.

How would you say the number of years they have worked for the company and the same thing but talking about the person's rank within the company? How would you say both? How would you differentiate rank and number of years worked? How would you make the distinction between rank and number of years? How would you distinguish between rank and the number of years?

Is this correct
He is down there of the ranks. He is nowhere at the top in the ranks. He might get to the top in a few years.

Is the question I asked correct?
How would you differentiate rank and number of years worked?

I maybe meant this but I'm not sure which is correct.
How would you make the distinction between rank and number of years?
How would you distinguish between rank and the number of years?

Thank you

Anonymous · Answer

First off, Merry Christmas

In addition to the above,
Since I read your answer I've been wondering about something, how to say the following:

He is above me.
He is above me in terms of rank.
He is above me rank-wise.
He is higher than me.
He is higher than me in terms of rank.
He is higher than me rank-wise.

He is higher ranked than me.
His is of higher rank than me.
He has a higher rank than me.

How do I know which is correct? Could you tell me please?

Thanks in advance
and Merry Christmas if you celibrate.

GPY · Answer

I am talking about the number of years they have worked for the company.
How would you say the number of years they have worked for the company and the same thing but talking about the person's rank within the company?
For the first case you can say "Who has worked for / been with the company the longest?"
For the second case you can say "Who is the highest-ranked person within the company?" or "Who is the most senior person within the company?"

If you are comparing two people (rather than asking for the overall best) you can say say "Who has worked for / been with the company the longer?" or "Who is the more senior?" respectively.

Is this correct He is down there of the ranks. He is nowhere at the top in the ranks. He might get to the top in a few years.
"He is low-ranked. He is nowhere near the top. He might get to the top in a few years."
"down there of the ranks" is not correct English.

Is the question I asked correct? How would you differentiate rank and number of years worked?
I maybe meant this but I'm not sure which is correct. How would you make the distinction between rank and number of years? How would you distinguish between rank and the number of years?
It is clearer to say "number of years worked" or "number of years' service" rather than simply "number of years", but otherwise they are all OK and mean about the same. I would probably say "differentiate between ...".

GPY · Answer

AnonymousHe is above me.He is above me in terms of rank.He is above me rank-wise.He is higher than me.He is higher than me in terms of rank.He is higher than me rank-wise.He is higher ranked than me.His is of higher rank than me.He has a higher rank than me

All these seem possible in some context. There may be some usage differences depending on whether you are talking about ranking within a company hierarchy, or within a military hierarchy, or ranking in something like a league table. "rank-wise" sounds a bit jargony. Obviously in cases like "He is above me" there has to be some context to show that rank is meant. "He is ranked higher than me" and "He ranks righer than me" are also possible.

Anonymous · Answer

I would take this to mean who's been in the company the longest though, not you?

"Who is the most senior person within the company?"

This is the first time I have heard 'the more or the longer'
I've hear 'the longest' or just 'longer'

Who has worked for / been with the company [the] longer?" or
I had never heard this 'the more senior'. Is it correct to take out 'the'?

"Who is the more senior?

Would it be possible in way to use the word seniority?

like 'Who is the oldest in terms of seniority?'

Thanks

GPY · Answer

nonymousI would take this to mean who's been in the company the longest though, not you?"Who is the most senior person within the company?"

I wouldn't understand it that way myself.

AnonymousThis is the first time I have heard 'the more or the longer'I've hear 'the longest' or just 'longer' Who has worked for / been with the company [the] longer?" orI had never heard this 'the more senior'. Is it correct to take out 'the'? "Who is the more senior?

In careful English, if you are comparing two things then use "more" / "longer"; if you are comparing more than two things, use "most" / "longest". This is the same for all comparatives and superlatives. However, informally you may often hear the superlatives used even for two things. For example, often you might hear someone say, of two things, "Which is (the) biggest?". Strictly this should be "Which is (the) bigger?".

"Who is more senior?" and "Who is the more senior?" are both acceptable when talking about two people.

AnonymousWould it be possible in way to use the word seniority?like 'Who is the oldest in terms of seniority?'

I already commented on this. As I mentioned in my first reply, I find "oldest in terms of seniority" a confusing idea. I don't understand the distinction between that and simply "oldest".

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for your help.

If I am talking about ranking within a company
Would all work?

1 He is above me. Would this be natural if there is more context?
2 He is above me in terms of rank. Is 'in terms of rank' after 'above me correct and you don't need more context?
3 He is above me rank-wise. Is 'rank-wise' after 'above me correct and you don't need more context in spoken English?
4 He is higher than me. Are 'above' and 'higher' as good as one another.
5 He is higher than me in terms of rank.
6 He is higher than me rank-wise.

Between the 4, is there an grammar difference? Is one not as pretty? Would you say 'has a higher rank' or 'is of', 'is ranked higher/higher ranked'? HAS or IS?

7 He is higher ranked than me.
8 His is of higher rank than me.
9 He has a higher rank than me.
10 He is ranked higher than me

One thing, you said you would use differentiate
How would you differentiate between rank and number of years worked?

How would you say : The Present continuous and present simple are hard to differentiate.
The 2 are hard to differentiate between
It is hard to differentiate the 2 tenses.

It is hard to differentiate between the 2 tenses.

Thank you and Have a nice day

senioirty

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