Comments on: Media’s use (or mis-use) of “troops” http://www.wyliewong.com/2007/01/27/medias-use-or-mis-use-of-troops/ Sun, 05 Dec 2010 03:24:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Pete http://www.wyliewong.com/2007/01/27/medias-use-or-mis-use-of-troops/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Pete Sun, 04 Mar 2007 18:36:58 +0000 http://www.wyliewong.com/2007/01/27/medias-use-or-mis-use-of-troops/#comment-17 How about this one, Wylie: "There is little dispute that Congress could, if it had the political will, end the war in Iraq tomorrow by using its power over appropriations to cut off funds to the troops." (NY Times, March 4) If by "troops" they are referring to groups of soldiers, this is correct usage. But it's really easy to see how this kind of writing could take us down that slippery slope of using "troop" incorrectly to mean a single soldier. Good writing, like democracy, takes constant vigilence. How about this one, Wylie:

“There is little dispute that Congress could, if it had the political will, end the war in Iraq tomorrow by using its power over appropriations to cut off funds to the troops.” (NY Times, March 4)

If by “troops” they are referring to groups of soldiers, this is correct usage. But it’s really easy to see how this kind of writing could take us down that slippery slope of using “troop” incorrectly to mean a single soldier. Good writing, like democracy, takes constant vigilence.

]]> By: Pete http://www.wyliewong.com/2007/01/27/medias-use-or-mis-use-of-troops/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Pete Sat, 24 Feb 2007 03:36:03 +0000 http://www.wyliewong.com/2007/01/27/medias-use-or-mis-use-of-troops/#comment-15 I hope you saw this quote in the NY Times today, Wylie. It should warm your grammatical innards: "He has done all the courses to take his troop to war, and it would have been sad if he was pulled out. He joined the regiment to do what the regiment does." (Attributed to an unidentified associate of a British army officer named Cornet Wales) I hope you saw this quote in the NY Times today, Wylie. It should warm your grammatical innards:

“He has done all the courses to take his troop to war, and it would have been sad if he was pulled out. He joined the regiment to do what the regiment does.” (Attributed to an unidentified associate of a British army officer named Cornet Wales)

]]> By: Wylie http://www.wyliewong.com/2007/01/27/medias-use-or-mis-use-of-troops/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Wylie Tue, 20 Feb 2007 06:57:08 +0000 http://www.wyliewong.com/2007/01/27/medias-use-or-mis-use-of-troops/#comment-13 Ah, you are correct. I was just about to make the correction, but then realized: This is a blog. So screw it! So, every day, moving forward, I will spell and use every day correctly. :) Ah, you are correct. I was just about to make the correction, but then realized: This is a blog. So screw it! So, every day, moving forward, I will spell and use every day correctly. :)

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