What is the plural of “sir”? [closed]
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A security guard wishes to address multiple people respectfully at once. Does he say:
Sorry, sir, but this ID is invalid.
or
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
or something like
Sorry, gentlemen, but your IDs are invalid.
grammar irregular-plurals
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
closed as off-topic by Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101 Oct 1 at 20:20
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
A security guard wishes to address multiple people respectfully at once. Does he say:
Sorry, sir, but this ID is invalid.
or
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
or something like
Sorry, gentlemen, but your IDs are invalid.
grammar irregular-plurals
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
closed as off-topic by Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101 Oct 1 at 20:20
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
A security guard wishes to address multiple people respectfully at once. Does he say:
Sorry, sir, but this ID is invalid.
or
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
or something like
Sorry, gentlemen, but your IDs are invalid.
grammar irregular-plurals
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
A security guard wishes to address multiple people respectfully at once. Does he say:
Sorry, sir, but this ID is invalid.
or
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
or something like
Sorry, gentlemen, but your IDs are invalid.
grammar irregular-plurals
grammar irregular-plurals
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
edited Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
14.4k43379
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
asked Sep 30 at 14:10
Joseph A.
219139
219139
closed as off-topic by Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101 Oct 1 at 20:20
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as off-topic by Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101 Oct 1 at 20:20
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Dan Bron, Knotell, AndyT, bookmanu, jimm101
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Sirs is the technically correct plural of "sir."
That said, it is rarely used today. Gentlemen is normally substituted.
Messrs. (pronounced MEZ-erz) is, curiously enough, the technically correct plural of "Mr." (pronounced MIST-er) and also hardly ever used, except in writing.
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
You don't need a plural so much as you need a vocative.
Sir is often used in the vocative, but not Sirs.
The correct vocative for more than one adult male (you can fudge on the "adult" part if you need to) is Gentlemen.
As in
Gentlemen, start your engines!
and
Sorry, gentlemen, your IDs are invalid.
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
How do you know that they're gentlemen?
– Hot Licks
Oct 1 at 0:44
I vaguely remember a vocative case from high school Latin (Brute?), didn't know we had one in English. Anyway, what about "Dear Sirs", the common ordinary way of starting a business letter to a firm?
– bof
Oct 1 at 5:05
2
@bof "Dear Sirs" is perfectly idiomatic in Britain, as a way of starting a business letter, to a company or business. Though nowadays it might be considered proper to say "Dear Sirs and Mesdames"... I wouldn't say "Sorry sirs, your ID's are invalid" I would prefer "Gentlemen". The only other instance of "Sirs" in the plural, that I can think of is where you are addressing or referring to two knights of the realm "The meeting was addressed by Sirs John Major and Nelson Mandela".
– WS2
Oct 1 at 7:59
Vocative isn't a case in English; English nouns have no cases. But vocative refers to what you call your addressee; you is always vocative, for instance. And there are conventions and rules for direct address, as there are for any vocal interaction. In Latin the vocative was always the same as the nominative, except for 2nd-declension nouns, where it was -e, as in Domine, non sum dignus 'O Lord, I am not worthy'. Domine is usually translated "O Lord", but it's just the vocative case of dominus 'lord'.
– John Lawler
Oct 1 at 14:50
1
@JohnLawler And Et tu Brute - "Even thou, oh Brutus"
– WS2
Oct 1 at 16:24
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The correct answer is:
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
Source: Definition from the Learner's Dictionary
sir /ˈsɚ/ noun
plural sirs
a
— used without a name as a form of polite address to a man you do not know
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
8
No one would say that. They would say gentlemen here. Sirs in the plural is no longer used.
– Lambie
Sep 30 at 14:25
1
While most likely true in the vernacular, the headline question asks for the plural of sir, and "gentlemen" is not it.
– GlitchC
Sep 30 at 18:34
3
The question is not only in the title, otherwise why did you copy the OP's example in your answer. The question title is a summary, but the precise problem is in the body.
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 8:35
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Sirs pace Lawler and Lambie is a time-honored way of addressing more than one sir, as per the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), definition 7b:
7b. In plural, used in addressing two or more persons.
And is still used today, as the following examples from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) show:
Hi, good afternoon, sirs. Thanks for taking my question. (NPR, 2010)
...and lurked into Atlanta to map Sherman's works. She is a paragon, sirs. We should all be so zealous. (Virginia Quarterly Review, 2007)
My students stood up. "Good morning, sirs." They sat down, folded their hands, and waited expectantly. (Impatient with Desire, 2010)
Royce had just dismounted when a boy ran up. "Take your horses, sirs? One night in a stable for just a silver each..." (Heir Novron, 2012)
etc
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
1
Excluding the first example, the other quotes seem to be taken from historical/period novels. Would I be mistaken? The question is not only in the title, it is also in the main body. Would you write: Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid or would you prefer using gentlemen in place of sirs?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:21
npr.org/templates/story/…
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:25
2
You answered a question, which is now closed, that you considered off-topic? Why is that?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 3 at 6:30
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Sirs is the technically correct plural of "sir."
That said, it is rarely used today. Gentlemen is normally substituted.
Messrs. (pronounced MEZ-erz) is, curiously enough, the technically correct plural of "Mr." (pronounced MIST-er) and also hardly ever used, except in writing.
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Sirs is the technically correct plural of "sir."
That said, it is rarely used today. Gentlemen is normally substituted.
Messrs. (pronounced MEZ-erz) is, curiously enough, the technically correct plural of "Mr." (pronounced MIST-er) and also hardly ever used, except in writing.
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
Sirs is the technically correct plural of "sir."
That said, it is rarely used today. Gentlemen is normally substituted.
Messrs. (pronounced MEZ-erz) is, curiously enough, the technically correct plural of "Mr." (pronounced MIST-er) and also hardly ever used, except in writing.
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
Sirs is the technically correct plural of "sir."
That said, it is rarely used today. Gentlemen is normally substituted.
Messrs. (pronounced MEZ-erz) is, curiously enough, the technically correct plural of "Mr." (pronounced MIST-er) and also hardly ever used, except in writing.
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
answered Sep 30 at 15:47
Ricky
14.4k43379
14.4k43379
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
You don't need a plural so much as you need a vocative.
Sir is often used in the vocative, but not Sirs.
The correct vocative for more than one adult male (you can fudge on the "adult" part if you need to) is Gentlemen.
As in
Gentlemen, start your engines!
and
Sorry, gentlemen, your IDs are invalid.
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
How do you know that they're gentlemen?
– Hot Licks
Oct 1 at 0:44
I vaguely remember a vocative case from high school Latin (Brute?), didn't know we had one in English. Anyway, what about "Dear Sirs", the common ordinary way of starting a business letter to a firm?
– bof
Oct 1 at 5:05
2
@bof "Dear Sirs" is perfectly idiomatic in Britain, as a way of starting a business letter, to a company or business. Though nowadays it might be considered proper to say "Dear Sirs and Mesdames"... I wouldn't say "Sorry sirs, your ID's are invalid" I would prefer "Gentlemen". The only other instance of "Sirs" in the plural, that I can think of is where you are addressing or referring to two knights of the realm "The meeting was addressed by Sirs John Major and Nelson Mandela".
– WS2
Oct 1 at 7:59
Vocative isn't a case in English; English nouns have no cases. But vocative refers to what you call your addressee; you is always vocative, for instance. And there are conventions and rules for direct address, as there are for any vocal interaction. In Latin the vocative was always the same as the nominative, except for 2nd-declension nouns, where it was -e, as in Domine, non sum dignus 'O Lord, I am not worthy'. Domine is usually translated "O Lord", but it's just the vocative case of dominus 'lord'.
– John Lawler
Oct 1 at 14:50
1
@JohnLawler And Et tu Brute - "Even thou, oh Brutus"
– WS2
Oct 1 at 16:24
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
You don't need a plural so much as you need a vocative.
Sir is often used in the vocative, but not Sirs.
The correct vocative for more than one adult male (you can fudge on the "adult" part if you need to) is Gentlemen.
As in
Gentlemen, start your engines!
and
Sorry, gentlemen, your IDs are invalid.
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
How do you know that they're gentlemen?
– Hot Licks
Oct 1 at 0:44
I vaguely remember a vocative case from high school Latin (Brute?), didn't know we had one in English. Anyway, what about "Dear Sirs", the common ordinary way of starting a business letter to a firm?
– bof
Oct 1 at 5:05
2
@bof "Dear Sirs" is perfectly idiomatic in Britain, as a way of starting a business letter, to a company or business. Though nowadays it might be considered proper to say "Dear Sirs and Mesdames"... I wouldn't say "Sorry sirs, your ID's are invalid" I would prefer "Gentlemen". The only other instance of "Sirs" in the plural, that I can think of is where you are addressing or referring to two knights of the realm "The meeting was addressed by Sirs John Major and Nelson Mandela".
– WS2
Oct 1 at 7:59
Vocative isn't a case in English; English nouns have no cases. But vocative refers to what you call your addressee; you is always vocative, for instance. And there are conventions and rules for direct address, as there are for any vocal interaction. In Latin the vocative was always the same as the nominative, except for 2nd-declension nouns, where it was -e, as in Domine, non sum dignus 'O Lord, I am not worthy'. Domine is usually translated "O Lord", but it's just the vocative case of dominus 'lord'.
– John Lawler
Oct 1 at 14:50
1
@JohnLawler And Et tu Brute - "Even thou, oh Brutus"
– WS2
Oct 1 at 16:24
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
You don't need a plural so much as you need a vocative.
Sir is often used in the vocative, but not Sirs.
The correct vocative for more than one adult male (you can fudge on the "adult" part if you need to) is Gentlemen.
As in
Gentlemen, start your engines!
and
Sorry, gentlemen, your IDs are invalid.
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
You don't need a plural so much as you need a vocative.
Sir is often used in the vocative, but not Sirs.
The correct vocative for more than one adult male (you can fudge on the "adult" part if you need to) is Gentlemen.
As in
Gentlemen, start your engines!
and
Sorry, gentlemen, your IDs are invalid.
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
answered Oct 1 at 0:42
John Lawler
83.1k6112325
83.1k6112325
How do you know that they're gentlemen?
– Hot Licks
Oct 1 at 0:44
I vaguely remember a vocative case from high school Latin (Brute?), didn't know we had one in English. Anyway, what about "Dear Sirs", the common ordinary way of starting a business letter to a firm?
– bof
Oct 1 at 5:05
2
@bof "Dear Sirs" is perfectly idiomatic in Britain, as a way of starting a business letter, to a company or business. Though nowadays it might be considered proper to say "Dear Sirs and Mesdames"... I wouldn't say "Sorry sirs, your ID's are invalid" I would prefer "Gentlemen". The only other instance of "Sirs" in the plural, that I can think of is where you are addressing or referring to two knights of the realm "The meeting was addressed by Sirs John Major and Nelson Mandela".
– WS2
Oct 1 at 7:59
Vocative isn't a case in English; English nouns have no cases. But vocative refers to what you call your addressee; you is always vocative, for instance. And there are conventions and rules for direct address, as there are for any vocal interaction. In Latin the vocative was always the same as the nominative, except for 2nd-declension nouns, where it was -e, as in Domine, non sum dignus 'O Lord, I am not worthy'. Domine is usually translated "O Lord", but it's just the vocative case of dominus 'lord'.
– John Lawler
Oct 1 at 14:50
1
@JohnLawler And Et tu Brute - "Even thou, oh Brutus"
– WS2
Oct 1 at 16:24
add a comment |
How do you know that they're gentlemen?
– Hot Licks
Oct 1 at 0:44
I vaguely remember a vocative case from high school Latin (Brute?), didn't know we had one in English. Anyway, what about "Dear Sirs", the common ordinary way of starting a business letter to a firm?
– bof
Oct 1 at 5:05
2
@bof "Dear Sirs" is perfectly idiomatic in Britain, as a way of starting a business letter, to a company or business. Though nowadays it might be considered proper to say "Dear Sirs and Mesdames"... I wouldn't say "Sorry sirs, your ID's are invalid" I would prefer "Gentlemen". The only other instance of "Sirs" in the plural, that I can think of is where you are addressing or referring to two knights of the realm "The meeting was addressed by Sirs John Major and Nelson Mandela".
– WS2
Oct 1 at 7:59
Vocative isn't a case in English; English nouns have no cases. But vocative refers to what you call your addressee; you is always vocative, for instance. And there are conventions and rules for direct address, as there are for any vocal interaction. In Latin the vocative was always the same as the nominative, except for 2nd-declension nouns, where it was -e, as in Domine, non sum dignus 'O Lord, I am not worthy'. Domine is usually translated "O Lord", but it's just the vocative case of dominus 'lord'.
– John Lawler
Oct 1 at 14:50
1
@JohnLawler And Et tu Brute - "Even thou, oh Brutus"
– WS2
Oct 1 at 16:24
How do you know that they're gentlemen?
– Hot Licks
Oct 1 at 0:44
How do you know that they're gentlemen?
– Hot Licks
Oct 1 at 0:44
I vaguely remember a vocative case from high school Latin (Brute?), didn't know we had one in English. Anyway, what about "Dear Sirs", the common ordinary way of starting a business letter to a firm?
– bof
Oct 1 at 5:05
I vaguely remember a vocative case from high school Latin (Brute?), didn't know we had one in English. Anyway, what about "Dear Sirs", the common ordinary way of starting a business letter to a firm?
– bof
Oct 1 at 5:05
2
2
@bof "Dear Sirs" is perfectly idiomatic in Britain, as a way of starting a business letter, to a company or business. Though nowadays it might be considered proper to say "Dear Sirs and Mesdames"... I wouldn't say "Sorry sirs, your ID's are invalid" I would prefer "Gentlemen". The only other instance of "Sirs" in the plural, that I can think of is where you are addressing or referring to two knights of the realm "The meeting was addressed by Sirs John Major and Nelson Mandela".
– WS2
Oct 1 at 7:59
@bof "Dear Sirs" is perfectly idiomatic in Britain, as a way of starting a business letter, to a company or business. Though nowadays it might be considered proper to say "Dear Sirs and Mesdames"... I wouldn't say "Sorry sirs, your ID's are invalid" I would prefer "Gentlemen". The only other instance of "Sirs" in the plural, that I can think of is where you are addressing or referring to two knights of the realm "The meeting was addressed by Sirs John Major and Nelson Mandela".
– WS2
Oct 1 at 7:59
Vocative isn't a case in English; English nouns have no cases. But vocative refers to what you call your addressee; you is always vocative, for instance. And there are conventions and rules for direct address, as there are for any vocal interaction. In Latin the vocative was always the same as the nominative, except for 2nd-declension nouns, where it was -e, as in Domine, non sum dignus 'O Lord, I am not worthy'. Domine is usually translated "O Lord", but it's just the vocative case of dominus 'lord'.
– John Lawler
Oct 1 at 14:50
Vocative isn't a case in English; English nouns have no cases. But vocative refers to what you call your addressee; you is always vocative, for instance. And there are conventions and rules for direct address, as there are for any vocal interaction. In Latin the vocative was always the same as the nominative, except for 2nd-declension nouns, where it was -e, as in Domine, non sum dignus 'O Lord, I am not worthy'. Domine is usually translated "O Lord", but it's just the vocative case of dominus 'lord'.
– John Lawler
Oct 1 at 14:50
1
1
@JohnLawler And Et tu Brute - "Even thou, oh Brutus"
– WS2
Oct 1 at 16:24
@JohnLawler And Et tu Brute - "Even thou, oh Brutus"
– WS2
Oct 1 at 16:24
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The correct answer is:
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
Source: Definition from the Learner's Dictionary
sir /ˈsɚ/ noun
plural sirs
a
— used without a name as a form of polite address to a man you do not know
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
8
No one would say that. They would say gentlemen here. Sirs in the plural is no longer used.
– Lambie
Sep 30 at 14:25
1
While most likely true in the vernacular, the headline question asks for the plural of sir, and "gentlemen" is not it.
– GlitchC
Sep 30 at 18:34
3
The question is not only in the title, otherwise why did you copy the OP's example in your answer. The question title is a summary, but the precise problem is in the body.
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 8:35
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The correct answer is:
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
Source: Definition from the Learner's Dictionary
sir /ˈsɚ/ noun
plural sirs
a
— used without a name as a form of polite address to a man you do not know
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
8
No one would say that. They would say gentlemen here. Sirs in the plural is no longer used.
– Lambie
Sep 30 at 14:25
1
While most likely true in the vernacular, the headline question asks for the plural of sir, and "gentlemen" is not it.
– GlitchC
Sep 30 at 18:34
3
The question is not only in the title, otherwise why did you copy the OP's example in your answer. The question title is a summary, but the precise problem is in the body.
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 8:35
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The correct answer is:
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
Source: Definition from the Learner's Dictionary
sir /ˈsɚ/ noun
plural sirs
a
— used without a name as a form of polite address to a man you do not know
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
The correct answer is:
Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid.
Source: Definition from the Learner's Dictionary
sir /ˈsɚ/ noun
plural sirs
a
— used without a name as a form of polite address to a man you do not know
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
answered Sep 30 at 14:14
GlitchC
1443
1443
8
No one would say that. They would say gentlemen here. Sirs in the plural is no longer used.
– Lambie
Sep 30 at 14:25
1
While most likely true in the vernacular, the headline question asks for the plural of sir, and "gentlemen" is not it.
– GlitchC
Sep 30 at 18:34
3
The question is not only in the title, otherwise why did you copy the OP's example in your answer. The question title is a summary, but the precise problem is in the body.
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 8:35
add a comment |
8
No one would say that. They would say gentlemen here. Sirs in the plural is no longer used.
– Lambie
Sep 30 at 14:25
1
While most likely true in the vernacular, the headline question asks for the plural of sir, and "gentlemen" is not it.
– GlitchC
Sep 30 at 18:34
3
The question is not only in the title, otherwise why did you copy the OP's example in your answer. The question title is a summary, but the precise problem is in the body.
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 8:35
8
8
No one would say that. They would say gentlemen here. Sirs in the plural is no longer used.
– Lambie
Sep 30 at 14:25
No one would say that. They would say gentlemen here. Sirs in the plural is no longer used.
– Lambie
Sep 30 at 14:25
1
1
While most likely true in the vernacular, the headline question asks for the plural of sir, and "gentlemen" is not it.
– GlitchC
Sep 30 at 18:34
While most likely true in the vernacular, the headline question asks for the plural of sir, and "gentlemen" is not it.
– GlitchC
Sep 30 at 18:34
3
3
The question is not only in the title, otherwise why did you copy the OP's example in your answer. The question title is a summary, but the precise problem is in the body.
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 8:35
The question is not only in the title, otherwise why did you copy the OP's example in your answer. The question title is a summary, but the precise problem is in the body.
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 8:35
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Sirs pace Lawler and Lambie is a time-honored way of addressing more than one sir, as per the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), definition 7b:
7b. In plural, used in addressing two or more persons.
And is still used today, as the following examples from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) show:
Hi, good afternoon, sirs. Thanks for taking my question. (NPR, 2010)
...and lurked into Atlanta to map Sherman's works. She is a paragon, sirs. We should all be so zealous. (Virginia Quarterly Review, 2007)
My students stood up. "Good morning, sirs." They sat down, folded their hands, and waited expectantly. (Impatient with Desire, 2010)
Royce had just dismounted when a boy ran up. "Take your horses, sirs? One night in a stable for just a silver each..." (Heir Novron, 2012)
etc
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
1
Excluding the first example, the other quotes seem to be taken from historical/period novels. Would I be mistaken? The question is not only in the title, it is also in the main body. Would you write: Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid or would you prefer using gentlemen in place of sirs?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:21
npr.org/templates/story/…
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:25
2
You answered a question, which is now closed, that you considered off-topic? Why is that?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 3 at 6:30
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Sirs pace Lawler and Lambie is a time-honored way of addressing more than one sir, as per the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), definition 7b:
7b. In plural, used in addressing two or more persons.
And is still used today, as the following examples from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) show:
Hi, good afternoon, sirs. Thanks for taking my question. (NPR, 2010)
...and lurked into Atlanta to map Sherman's works. She is a paragon, sirs. We should all be so zealous. (Virginia Quarterly Review, 2007)
My students stood up. "Good morning, sirs." They sat down, folded their hands, and waited expectantly. (Impatient with Desire, 2010)
Royce had just dismounted when a boy ran up. "Take your horses, sirs? One night in a stable for just a silver each..." (Heir Novron, 2012)
etc
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
1
Excluding the first example, the other quotes seem to be taken from historical/period novels. Would I be mistaken? The question is not only in the title, it is also in the main body. Would you write: Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid or would you prefer using gentlemen in place of sirs?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:21
npr.org/templates/story/…
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:25
2
You answered a question, which is now closed, that you considered off-topic? Why is that?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 3 at 6:30
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
Sirs pace Lawler and Lambie is a time-honored way of addressing more than one sir, as per the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), definition 7b:
7b. In plural, used in addressing two or more persons.
And is still used today, as the following examples from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) show:
Hi, good afternoon, sirs. Thanks for taking my question. (NPR, 2010)
...and lurked into Atlanta to map Sherman's works. She is a paragon, sirs. We should all be so zealous. (Virginia Quarterly Review, 2007)
My students stood up. "Good morning, sirs." They sat down, folded their hands, and waited expectantly. (Impatient with Desire, 2010)
Royce had just dismounted when a boy ran up. "Take your horses, sirs? One night in a stable for just a silver each..." (Heir Novron, 2012)
etc
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
Sirs pace Lawler and Lambie is a time-honored way of addressing more than one sir, as per the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), definition 7b:
7b. In plural, used in addressing two or more persons.
And is still used today, as the following examples from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) show:
Hi, good afternoon, sirs. Thanks for taking my question. (NPR, 2010)
...and lurked into Atlanta to map Sherman's works. She is a paragon, sirs. We should all be so zealous. (Virginia Quarterly Review, 2007)
My students stood up. "Good morning, sirs." They sat down, folded their hands, and waited expectantly. (Impatient with Desire, 2010)
Royce had just dismounted when a boy ran up. "Take your horses, sirs? One night in a stable for just a silver each..." (Heir Novron, 2012)
etc
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
answered Oct 1 at 7:06
Knotell
4,69421444
4,69421444
1
Excluding the first example, the other quotes seem to be taken from historical/period novels. Would I be mistaken? The question is not only in the title, it is also in the main body. Would you write: Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid or would you prefer using gentlemen in place of sirs?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:21
npr.org/templates/story/…
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:25
2
You answered a question, which is now closed, that you considered off-topic? Why is that?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 3 at 6:30
add a comment |
1
Excluding the first example, the other quotes seem to be taken from historical/period novels. Would I be mistaken? The question is not only in the title, it is also in the main body. Would you write: Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid or would you prefer using gentlemen in place of sirs?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:21
npr.org/templates/story/…
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:25
2
You answered a question, which is now closed, that you considered off-topic? Why is that?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 3 at 6:30
1
1
Excluding the first example, the other quotes seem to be taken from historical/period novels. Would I be mistaken? The question is not only in the title, it is also in the main body. Would you write: Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid or would you prefer using gentlemen in place of sirs?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:21
Excluding the first example, the other quotes seem to be taken from historical/period novels. Would I be mistaken? The question is not only in the title, it is also in the main body. Would you write: Sorry, sirs, but your IDs are invalid or would you prefer using gentlemen in place of sirs?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:21
npr.org/templates/story/…
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:25
npr.org/templates/story/…
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 1 at 7:25
2
2
You answered a question, which is now closed, that you considered off-topic? Why is that?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 3 at 6:30
You answered a question, which is now closed, that you considered off-topic? Why is that?
– Mari-Lou A
Oct 3 at 6:30
add a comment |
