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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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We remind all announcers to mind your pronouns
Guest
1
2010/07/06 - 1:46pm

I was recently riding a train, and a recorded announcement struck me as odd. The announcer said something like this:

We remind all passengers to take your belongings and your trash with you as you exit the train.

I would probably suggest something like this:

We remind all passengers to take their belongings and their trash with them as they exit the train.

In a different context I might say:

I remind all you students to take your textbooks with you when you leave for the day.

But the train's announcement sounds jumbled to me. Is this regional?

Martha Barnette
San Diego, CA
820 Posts
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2
2010/07/07 - 12:58pm

I like your alternative, Glenn. Otherwise, I think I'd be clutching my bag and looking around suspiciously at my seatmates.

Guest
3
2010/07/10 - 2:43am

I would also suggest that the word "all" takes the directive into the third-person unnecessarily; the imperative should be fine: "Passengers, take your belongings — do not leave anything on the train."

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