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 am Canadian.
RE: Equipments
In Spanish the plural equipos is much used and quite acceptable.
RE: Equipments
I copied the web site to here.
http:/
RE: Equipments
No.
RE: Equipments
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: Equipments
Rather
RE: Equipments
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
RE: Equipments
As for the military context ... I would never trust anything concerning language from that source.
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091
RE: Equipments
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
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
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
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.