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Mitsuo23 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

sorry, could be challenging

I would like to know why "Priority Seat" has to be "Priority Seat" in the sign you can find on this website. (There you'll see a squared photo. Please click "CLICK TO ENLARGE" to see the whole photo.)


 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2012/03/17/our-lives/super-priority-seats-what-will-they-do/#.UtSDonmV0vp



I and someone (a native speaker) spent hours and hours to explain ourselves why we feel "A Priority Seat" is so wrong, while "Priority Seats" would seem acceptable if there were more than one priority seat adjacent to this sign. We couldn't find a good explanation. 


Could anyone explain why?


Thank you,

M 
  

Top answer

It is a window sticker. All the window stickers are printed with the same icon and text. They don't print stickers with different text: "A priority Seat", "Two Priority Seats"...

— AlpheccaStars

  • It is a window sticker.
  • All the window stickers are printed with the same icon and text.
  • They don't print stickers with different text: "A priority Seat", "Two Priority Seats"...
  • The most general text is "Priority Seat" It means that the seat (or seats) beside (beneath) this sticker are reserved for people with less mobility.
  • If the row behind this one has a priority seat, there will be another sticker for that row, too.
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9 Answers
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It is a window sticker. All the window stickers are printed with the same icon and text. They don't print stickers with different text: "A priority Seat", "Two Priority Seats"... The most general text is "Priority Seat"

It means that the seat (or seats) beside (beneath) this sticker are reserved for people with less mobility.
If the row behind this one has a priority seat, there w
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Thank you for the reply while I use the word "challenging" in the title.


I am not sure if I have understood you correctly but if the sentence below is correct (and it's actually correct)
AlpheccaStarsIf the row behind this one has a priority seat, there will be another sticker for that row, too.
the most general text should be "A Priority Sea
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mitsuwao23 Or do you see it more like a title and that's why the first letters are capitalized?
Yes, it is a title. It would look strange in sentence case, because it is not a sentence.

It is common in titles and headlines to omit the articles. Frequently signs like this one are in all upper case.
But then that would squelch a lively discussion
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So the reason this sign reads "Priority Seat" is basically the same as the signs that read "Bus Stop" or "BUS STOP"? "A Bus Stop" would be hyper grammatical to use in signs so that we feel "A Priority Seat" is so wrong?
AlpheccaStarsBut then that would squelch a lively discussion on usage of upper/lower case letters on window stickers in public transportation vehicles.
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mitsuwao23So the reason this sign reads "Priority Seat" is basically the same as the signs that read "Bus Stop" or "BUS STOP"?
Yes. I have never seen a sign "A Bus Stop." Everywhere I go, I see only "Bus Stop."
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mitsuwao23I actually couldn't understand "squelch" in this context.
It was meant as a little joke. If that sticker with "Priority Seat" did not exist, then there would be no lively discussion, would there?
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Just last question. Do you think it is grammatically correct if the sign says "A Priority Seat"?
AlpheccaStarsIt was meant as a little joke. If that sticker with "Priority Seat" did not exist, then there would be no lively discussion, would there?
Ops, I hate myself missing jokes when people make it, but jokes in English are not easy for me sometimes.
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mitsuwao23 Do you think it is grammatically correct if the sign says "A Priority Seat"?
Sure. Just as these would be:

Padded Priority Seat
Elite Priority Seat
Plus Size Priority Seat
Priority Seat, Junior
Safety-Certified Priority Seat
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OK, thank you for the reply and thanks for coming back!
M
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