Pair o’ Docs Paradox (minicast)

Welcome to another mini-cast of A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette.

While we’re on our regular summer hiatus, we’re sharing a few calls that we weren’t able to fit into our regular season.

You never know what’s going to prompt some people to call into our show. Sometimes it’s the tiniest point of grammar.

Hi there. Phil Bartell from Imperial Beach, California.

Well, happy to talk to you, Phil. What’s going on in Imperial Beach?

I have a question.

All right.

Dr. Tefu Chen and his wife, Dr. Oi Lin Chen, own and operate a large multinational herbal food company. And in the literature, I’ve seen them referred to in several different ways, and I’m kind of wondering which one is correct.

Point number one, the owners, Dr. Chen’s, with S’s on the end of each one, are experts in the field. Second one, the owners, Dr. Chens, with an S on the end of Chens, are experts in the field. Third one, the owners, doctors, with an S on it, Chen, with no S, are experts in the field. And the fourth one, the owners, the doctors, Chen, are experts in the field.

I kind of lean towards number three. The owners, doctors, Chen, are experts in the field. But, you know, it’s been 40-something years since I’ve studied any grammar, and I never use it, but it just kind of seems right to me.

So this is something that you’re reading or you’re writing?

I read it in company literature and other places.

You know, Phil, I’m not sure there is a rule here, except that I think I would lean toward one of the last two. Dr. Chen or the Dr. Chen.

Grant, you’re in the news media a lot. Do people say the lexicographer Grant Barrett or do they say lexicographer Grant Barrett?

It depends on what they’re going to follow it with, actually. In this particular case, we say the owner’s doctor’s chin are experts in the field. That works perfectly.

If we say the owner’s the doctor’s chin are experts in the field, then we’re calling kind of extra attention to the doctor’s chin as opposed to the doctor’s wang or the doctor’s lung, you know, as if there are other doctors something that we should be calling attention to.

I think maybe three is the best here. The owners, Drs. Chen, are experts in their field.

Oh, you’re all right.

That’s what I think, too. But, you know, if you just rewrote it and said the Drs. Chen are experts in the field, then you’re done. And just leave the owners off.

Right.

Yeah, I think that would work, too.

Mm—

I think you’ve got some validation. And so are you going to go to them and present this suggestion?

Yes, I am.

Okay.

I’m going to mention your names, too.

Oh.

Oh.

They’re to blame.

Right.

Yes, they’re fault.

Yes, it’s all Grant and Martha’s fault.

But how are you going to say it?

The hosts, Barnette and Barrett?

I’m going to say I called A Way with Words and asked the hosts, Grant and Martha.

There we go.

Bingo.

It’s Martha and Grant.

Yes, Bob. Beauty before youth, so definitely.

All right, Phil.

All right, thank you so much, Phil.

Thank you very much for helping me.

Bye-bye.

Take care.

Yep, as I was saying, you never know what’s going to get someone exercised enough to pick up the phone and give us a call.

Oh, and here’s a question that crossed my desk the other day. It’s a little puzzle for you.

Think of a seven-letter word, remove two letters, and you have eight left. What’s the word?

I’ll give you a minute to think about that.

Okay, so I was looking for a seven-letter word. You take two letters away, and you have eight left. What’s the answer?

Well, they’re two answers, really. Freight and weights. Take two of those letters away, and you have eight. Sorry about that.

Well, anyway, do you have a question for us?

You can call us any time to leave a message. We’d love to hear from you. The number’s 1-877-929-9673.

Or you can email us. The address is words@waywordradio.org.

And if you just can’t wait to talk about a tiny point of grammar or maybe try to puzzle us, drop by our discussion forum and start a conversation. The address is waywordradio.org/discussion.

That’s all for this summer minicast. For A Way with Words, I’m Martha Barnette.

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Thank you.