Language police, please help with travel talk
#1
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Language police, please help with travel talk
Over on the Airlines forum, I frequently see what I think is incorrect use of the plural form of verbs. I wonder if you could point me to an authoritative explanation of which is correct.
A simple example of what I think is incorrect: "United Airlines fly planes".
As though "United Airlines" is plural. But, United Airlines, United, is an "it". "It flies planes". The employes of United Airlines: they fly planes.
The team wins. The players win.
I see a couple of examples that support my belief at www.boeing.com: "Boeing reports ..." and "Boeing closes ...".
What set me off to post this message was the following, which I think is goofy:
"Skytrax operate the Star Rating system ..."
found at:
http://www.airlinequality.com/StarRanking/ranking.htm
Where I was trying to find out why LH is 4*, the same as NH, when NH is far superior, but that is a different subject.
A simple example of what I think is incorrect: "United Airlines fly planes".
As though "United Airlines" is plural. But, United Airlines, United, is an "it". "It flies planes". The employes of United Airlines: they fly planes.
The team wins. The players win.
I see a couple of examples that support my belief at www.boeing.com: "Boeing reports ..." and "Boeing closes ...".
What set me off to post this message was the following, which I think is goofy:
"Skytrax operate the Star Rating system ..."
found at:
http://www.airlinequality.com/StarRanking/ranking.htm
Where I was trying to find out why LH is 4*, the same as NH, when NH is far superior, but that is a different subject.
#5
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Just to echo nytraveler:
In Britain, corporate names and other collective nouns are treated as being plural, whereas in the US they're treated as singular. Logically, they're kind of a hybrid, so neither way is intrinsically more rational.
You said "The team wins." That's true in Britain, too. But Manchester United win.
In Britain, corporate names and other collective nouns are treated as being plural, whereas in the US they're treated as singular. Logically, they're kind of a hybrid, so neither way is intrinsically more rational.
You said "The team wins." That's true in Britain, too. But Manchester United win.
#6
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Maybe it might be a Brit thing, but I don't think so, especially when saying the same thing three ways might come out as:
NH flies planes.
ANA flies planes.
All Nippon Airways fly planes.
You could see all of those in the same thread.
Team names are a bit different, I guess. You would say: "The New York Muts lost" is like saying the players lost. "The New York Yankees is moving to Chattenooga" would be correct, though you'd say the "Yankees franchise is moving".
Oo, there is some fun to be had on that Oregon thread.
NH flies planes.
ANA flies planes.
All Nippon Airways fly planes.
You could see all of those in the same thread.
Team names are a bit different, I guess. You would say: "The New York Muts lost" is like saying the players lost. "The New York Yankees is moving to Chattenooga" would be correct, though you'd say the "Yankees franchise is moving".
Oo, there is some fun to be had on that Oregon thread.
#7
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OK mrwunrfl, let 'er rip. We in the NW eagerly await your critique of our English....Just remember, though, our English is influenced by many, including the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, French trappers, the Chinese who built the railroads, and those early English settlers who have yet to learn that still don't know that corporate names are singular!
#9
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How about the common Fodors spellings: Niagra, San Fransisco - or just Frisco, capital vs capitol, carribbean, etc.
Re sports teams, the 70-80 times a year it happens it's announced different ways that the "NY Mets" win, but "NY" wins. Listen to ESPN sports center sometime & you'll hear it both ways - city + team are plural, city is cingular.
#10
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I thinks what if you can understood what the people is trying to say then things is good enough.
It's not like anyone is referring to their Strunk & White while posting. After all, this is a travel forum, not a literary discussion group.
It's not like anyone is referring to their Strunk & White while posting. After all, this is a travel forum, not a literary discussion group.
#13
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Yes Bounty, and may I add:
One of the worst (not *worse*) abuses is the incorrect usage of *too* or *to*.
Another frequent mistake is made between the words there, they're and their.
For example:
"Too (not *to*) often, 'there' are too (not *to*) many people unaware 'they're' using words incorrectly, and 'their' oblivious awareness makes reading difficult".
One of the worst (not *worse*) abuses is the incorrect usage of *too* or *to*.
Another frequent mistake is made between the words there, they're and their.
For example:
"Too (not *to*) often, 'there' are too (not *to*) many people unaware 'they're' using words incorrectly, and 'their' oblivious awareness makes reading difficult".
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