Thursday, September 16, 2004

From Abu Ghraib to the Eye of the Hurricane

Abuse means abuse. Ten people get abused? It's still just abuse. "Abuses" are instances of people taking improper advantage of a rule or a law or a situation.

Damage means damage. Ten things get damaged? It's still just damage. "Damages" means money sought in a lawsuit.

The s is not a toy.

2 comments:

Daryl said...

How about "persons" vs "people"? I always thought Time's use of the phrase Persons of the Year sounded stilted.

co-ed said...

This is an off-shoot from the second comment: Whatever happened to Man of the Year? "Man" need not refer to sex or gender. As a woman, I don't mind being a member of mankind.