[net.nlang] matching adjectives

rlh@cvl.UUCP (Ralph L. Hartley) (02/15/84)

While I was watching the Olimpics last night I
one of the comentators used the phrase "The men
alpine skiers". This could be atributed to the
fact that the events in which they compete are
called "The men`s alpine events". But in any case
gramaticaly the word "man" was used as an
adjective which must match the noun it modifies
in number. If this is the case then there is
nothing sexist about a similar usage of the word
"woman" (Though the frequency of its use probably
is sexist). However I am of the opinion that both
usages set a bad precident. I am very much in
favor of reducing inflection as much as posible.

		Down with "whom"!
		Ralph Hartley

garys@bunkerb.UUCP (Gary Samuelson) (02/16/84)

I, for one, am not going to take grammar lessons from someone
who makes six spelling errors in a 16 line article, not to
mention several places where commas should have been used.