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Equipments

Equipments

Equipments

(OP)
Here is one that has always bugged me.  I saw this in another post today and it brought back bad memories.  I used to work with a senior structural engineer who was very adamant about using "equipments" to mean more than one of whatever equipment it was.  Since he was a non-native (American) English speaker, I just threw up my hands and wrote it off as such.  My question then, is this type of pluralism common outside of the USA?

RE: Equipments

I use equipment as "equipment" for both singular and plural items.

I am Canadian.

RE: Equipments


In Spanish the plural equipos is much used and quite acceptable.

RE: Equipments

"My question then, is this type of pluralism common outside of the USA?"

No.

RE: Equipments

In the UK it is simply bad grammar. From a native English speaker it demonstrates ignorance of the language; from someone with English as a second language it is a forgiveable mistake.

----------------------------------
  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: Equipments

|From a native English speaker it demonstrates ignorance of |the language;

Rather

RE: Equipments

"Equipments" is used in a military context quite frequently, at least here in UK. This may be a slightly specialised meaning, referring to "different categories of equipment". I've heard it in other contexts, such as civil aviation. I suspect that in some cases it may be used by people who are neither ignorant nor stupid.

As to whether it's correct - well, repeated usage makes it acceptable initially, and eventually correct.

I don't have a strong view either way, but to classify its use as a demonstration of ignorance is maybe a tad arrogant?

RE: Equipments

Or a demonstration of ignorance on the part of the person classifying it as such. I confess to not knowing its use in the military and would have agreed with ScottyUK until now.

RE: Equipments

Quote:

I suspect that in some cases it may be used by people who are neither ignorant nor stupid.
The suggestion was that its use "demonstrates ignorance of the language", NOT that the users were ignorant people ... and no mention of "stupid" was made prior to your post.

As for the military context ... I would never trust anything concerning language from that source.

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Equipments

I'm suggesting that for many 'incorrect' usages, there may be instances where words have come to be used to convey specialised and often quite subtle meanings and we should not condemn them automatically. Many software terms were (initially) travesties of the English language but have become universally accepted because they have a useful and unique meaning in that context.

I am a stickler for 'correct' English but I acknowledge that words and their meanings change from time to time - sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

I was only trying to point out that the word 'equipments' has been used deliberately and consciously by knowledgeable, erudite and intelligent (but possibly misguided) people in certain specialist fields. I don't think we should condemn this out of hand, and I don't classify it in the same way as other sloppy misuse, spelling or grammar.

As for not trusting 'anything concerning language' from military sources - well! The military engineering world is no worse than any other sphere in its use of language - probably better than most.

But you're entitled to your opinion, CBL; let's not fall out over it.

RE: Equipments

I consider "equipments" in the same category as "troops".

Some genius on the TV news program says "4 troops". That is seriously annoying to me, as I believe "troops" is an unidentified quantity. It means more than 1, usually several. Troops is a plural noun, as is equipment.
jimbo

And we have the local store saying "fruits". I don't shop there.

Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

RE: Equipments

I wouldn't look to the Forces to supply definitive examples of good usage of English.

Sgt Major: 'First you will learn how to dismantle the Bren gun. Then you will learn how to clean it. Then you will learn how to mantle it back together'

Now, that may have been a joke. If so it was the only one he ever made.

Cheers

Greg Locock

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