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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009Thespian metamorphosis
Found on the BBC: [quotes] Sutherland charged with assault ... He turned himself into police on Thursday... [end quotes] <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8039435.stm> The guy is an actor, after all, but shouldn't that be "a police"?  SignatureLes (BrE) > Found on the BBC: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > The guy is an actor, after all, but shouldn't that be "a police"? No. "Surrender to police," "arrested by police" and so on are standard British usage. Usage of articles (definite and indefinite) is not uniform and is not governed by strict rules. Thus "she went into hospital" is standard British usage but Americans say "she went into the hospital." This has been discussed before. SignatureDon Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) >> Found on the BBC: >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > but Americans say "she went into the hospital." This has > been discussed before. For want of a space... SignatureLes (BrE) Herrings for sale, all colours. >Found on the BBC: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >The guy is an actor, after all, but shouldn't that be "a police"? He is a man of many parts. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >Found on the BBC: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >The guy is an actor, after all, but shouldn't that be "a police"? He felt backup was called for. SignatureJohn > Found on the BBC: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > The guy is an actor, after all, but shouldn't that be "a police"? "...I am large, I contain multitudes." SignatureThe comfort of the wealthy has always depended upon an abundant supply of the poor. --Voltaire |
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