[Editors] Grammatical question

[Shannon Larkin]

I love grammatical discussions like this - Mom was an English teacher, so it
brings me back to my childhood.
 
I usually think of learning as a collective noun also.  If the writer is
really after pluralization, perhaps "findings" would be a better word?
Neither word would get an apostrophe, though, in this context.
 
"Researchers often share their findings with colleagues, but keep their
learning to themselves."
 
-Shannon Larkin


  _____  

From: editors-bounces at MIT.EDU [mailto:editors-bounces at MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of
Nancy DuVergne Smith
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 4:07 PM
To: lslavin at MIT.EDU; 'MIT Editors'
Subject: Re: [Editors] Grammatical question



Hi all,

 

My vote is that learning is a collective noun, like deer and education.  No
matter how many of you there are, you all share your learning. (singular).

 

Cheers,

Nancy

 

 

Nancy DuVergne Smith
MIT Alumni Association | Editorial Director
W59-200 | 617-253-8217 | ndsmith at mit.edu
http://alum.mit.edu/ 


  _____  


From: editors-bounces at MIT.EDU [mailto:editors-bounces at MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of
Lois Slavin
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 3:30 PM
To: MIT Editors
Subject: [Editors] Grammatical question

 

Is the following use of "learnings" correct?

 

"....shared their learnings with other companies......."

 

I have a colleague who says it should be "learning's". He was an English
major in college, not an engineer, so I thought I'd better check with this
group!

 

Thanks.

Lois

 

 

Lois Slavin

Communications Director

MIT Engineering Systems Division

 

77 Massachusetts Avenue

E40-315

Cambridge, MA  02139-4307

 

Tel.  617.253.0812

Fax: 617.253.1462

WWW:  <http://esd.mit.edu/> http://esd.mit.edu

http://esd.mit.edu/Esd_Staff/Lois/lslavin.htm

 

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