Grammar HELP needed!

[chayton]

So I've got a job doing this CD cover and on the thanks/credits page of the booklet they say:
"Thank you to all of the teachers who took me under their wing..."

I thought it was wrong so I changed it to:
"Thank you to all of the teachers who took me under their wings..."

But that looked wrong too. Now I'm so tired I'm questioning whether 'teachers' is spelled correctly. I'm thinking it was right the first way, because they're only being taken under the (one) wing of multiple teachers. Right? Any grammar mavens out here who can tell me which is correct?

 

[dionysus]

The first is correct; to take someone under one's wing

 

[KasinoKing]

I'm not sure, but my inclination would be to go with the first version.

Not very helpful, I know!
KK

 

[IanO]

I agree with dionysus and would use the first version.

I see where you're coming from... lot's of teachers so why not miltiple 'wings'... but I still think the first version is correct.


And now a short joke.... the next time someone gets mad at you for bad grammar, just calmly say to them 'Their there they're, calm down' and watch their face go purple

 

[conker]

First is what I would have used.

 

[dionysus]

Draw comparisons and you' ll see it clearer:
Americans hold their celebrations on the first of the month...not firsts even though it's every year.
My favourite part of school end was receiving the yearbook...not yearbooks, even though though there was one each year

 

[chayton]

Great, thanks everyone! I was getting myself confused.

 

[The Dude]

The problem is that you are using an expression that focuses on a singular object - the wing. The first is correct since you have a multitude of teachers yet a metaphor that includes a singular expression, but it sounds awkward since all the arboreal teachers have assumingly two wings each. Thus the plural is correct as well, but it doesn't sound right. The metaphor loses it's meaning.

My suggestion is to ditch the cliché (sorry) and go for something else e.g. I want thank those teachers who mentored me, set the example, spanked me when I was bad etc.

Hope this helps.

Grammar über Alles

 

[dionysus]

I'd keep it, providing you feel the teachers actually nurtured you rather than simply having taught you. The reasons we have metaphors, similes and the like is because English is such a robust language and adding colour often infuses a better sense of sincerity. Being teachers themselves, why not add the colour? Having been a teacher I'd feel more flattered that I helped someone grow rather than just learn.

English teacher Jay

 

[The Dude]

Figure out how to turn "teachers" into a singular noun and it'll sound better with the wing metaphor.

edited to add: The problem is that the English language doesn't have a singular possessive determiner that includes both sexes.

You could say "I want to thank all of the teachers who took me under his/her wing." His/her needs to be replaced (there is no word that's singular that combines the sexes). Or change teachers into a singular noun.

 

[Redbet-Andy]

Both are technically correct.

One teacher is unlikely to have a single wing (even given the remote possibility that your teachers were of the avian persuasion).
So one teacher can take you under both of his/her wings, or choose to take you under just one.

Many teachers would have to take you under their collective "wings".

At times like this you'd do well to defer to Bette Midler...

 

[dionysus]

Though telling them they're your hero may be overkill

 

[dionysus]

Figure out how to turn "teachers" into a singular noun and it'll sound better with the wing metaphor.

edited to add: The problem is that the English language doesn't have a singular possessive determiner that includes both sexes.

You could say "I want to thank all of the teachers who took me under his/her wing." His/her needs to be replaced (there is no word that's singular that combines the sexes). Or change teachers into a singular noun.

I've always found that ridiculous that in all this time we've not come to an acceptable term to denote a non-gender specific individual since 'him or her' or 'his or hers' sounds terribly clumsy. Other languages have figured it out. We've 100 plus ways to label genitalia and can't figure this one out lol.

 

[chayton]

Well not only that but to be completely PC these days you'd have to include more than his/her.

The world is strange enough with all these winged teachers flapping around.

 

[Redbet-Andy]

We kind of have haven't we? But I hate it.
There's a tendency amongst really annoying people to refer to both sexes as "you guys".
Arrgh.

I've always found that ridiculous that in all this time we've not come to an acceptable term to denote a non-gender specific individual since 'him or her' or 'his or hers' sounds terribly clumsy. Other languages have figured it out. We've 100 plus ways to label genitalia and can't figure this one out lol.

 

[dionysus]

Mm, sometimes lol. You might say in a non-gender specific way like "Hey guys, want to go to the bar", but you wouldn't leave it open for interpretation in the case of oh, say, "Yeah, so I banged a couple guys after the bar last night"

 

[Tirilej]

both sexes as "you guys".

I know in the beginning here I constantly told people that I wasn't a guy.
Now I understand that they maybe didn't care. I was just an "it".

 

[griffon51]

I too was thinking much the same but I fear you have sent this down another culdesac....


My suggestion is to ditch the cliché (sorry) and go for something else e.g. I want thank those teachers who mentored me, set the example, spanked me when I was bad etc.

....spanking is def. off the itinery


Grif

 

[secret2]

Far from an expert in Grammar but I would rephrase it, if unsure.

So I've got a job doing this CD cover and on the thanks/credits page of the booklet they say:
"Thank you to all of the teachers who took me under their wing..."

I thought it was wrong so I changed it to:
"Thank you to all of the teachers who took me under their wings..."

But that looked wrong too. Now I'm so tired I'm questioning whether 'teachers' is spelled correctly. I'm thinking it was right the first way, because they're only being taken under the (one) wing of multiple teachers. Right? Any grammar mavens out here who can tell me which is correct?

 

[ksech]

Just to add my quarter (inflation LOL) both could be deemed correct, BUT it also depends on what you have following the statement...

"Thank you to all the teachers who took me under their wing when I was a mere fledging and needed dire guidance to get my feet off the ground."

"Thank you to all the teachers who took me under their wings to protect me from the vultures who prey on the chicken littles of the world."

 

[skiny]

I would like to thank all the teachers who had the foresight to wear deodorant before they took me under their wing.

I would like to thank all the teachers who took me under their wing... Except maybe Mrs. Sharples. That old bat's wing was as leathery as an old boot.

I would like to thank all the teachers who took me under their wing. I still get nostalgic every time I hack up a feather.

I forget the question.