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Englishnewbie Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

The medicine law

Hello,
I saw on government website

"the meds law"

I think this means "the medicines law"

When do we NOT use "s" for the middle word?

I thought it shoudl be "the medicine law" because "medicine" is followed by "law."

Can you use "s" for middle word this like?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

In the Philippines it is short for the Cheaper Medicines Law and in the US it is the Cheaper Medicines Act (CMA) . but not always: sports commentator, women players, materials technician, telecommunications facility . When this happens, it is usually because it sounds a little odd when singular or because there are so obviously several of the sports/medicines/women/etc involved in the concept.

— Mister Micawber

  • In the Philippines it is short for the Cheaper Medicines Law and in the US it is the Cheaper Medicines Act (CMA) .
  • but not always: sports commentator, women players, materials technician, telecommunications facility .
  • When this happens, it is usually because it sounds a little odd when singular or because there are so obviously several of the sports/medicines/women/etc involved in the concept.
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10 Answers
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In the Philippines it is short for the Cheaper Medicines Law and in the US it is the Cheaper Medicines Act (CMA). You are speaking about nouns used in as modifiers, and you are right that they are usually singular...but not always: sports commentator, women players, materials technician, telecommunications facility. When this happens, it is usually because it sounds a littl
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Hi,
So is this one of those situations where people just decide waht is better?

That is, "the medicine law" would be ok but people just decided to use "the medicines law"?
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No; some legislator (perhaps the one that introduced the bill) presumably gave it the name.
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I meant that it would have been ok to use "the medicine law" but the sponsor of the law gave it the name "the medineS law" because he/she felt it SOUNDED better?

A personal inclination, not grammar issue?

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I want to really know.
Thanks.
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If you really want to know, you'll have to ask the person who named it. I have already given you the grammatico-semantic explanation.
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I don't mean WHY that lawmaker named it that but

I want to know if the choice of "medicine" or "medicines" is up to the individual (that is, the choice is NOT based on grammar rules).

Thanks.
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Neither. There is no rule; only a guideline. And usage determines what is accepted, not the individual, who may only suggest with his coinage.
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Can you please suggest correct answer
A: Were you able to attend the semi-annual managers meeting yesterday afternoon?
B: No, I _______, but I was delayed by a lengthy conference call with an important client.

(A) should have attended
(B) could have being present
(C) must have gone
(D) may have appeared
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Which answer do you think is correct, Anon?
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