posted
There is a common grammar construction: Every <blank> a <blank>. Mormons know it well from the phrase "Every member a missionary", but it arises in other contexts as well. The vision statement for my group at work follows this construction, but my boss claims (I think incorrectly) that it requires a mid-phrase comma "Every <blank>, a <blank>".
Thoughts? Pointers to authoritative grammar blogs, FAQs, or rules would be helpful, as would personal opinions, or other examples of the construction or information on what the proper grammatical terminology for that construction is.
Posts: 2926 | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think if you're using it to make the second word rename the first, you don't necessarily need it.
So, the "every member a missionary" is like saying "every member is a missionary" or "make every member a missionary".
But if you're trying to apportion one of the second word to each first word, it feels like you'd need it.
So, "every guest, a meal" is like saying "for every guest, a meal" which is an inversion of "a meal for every guest".
That's in no way authoritative, but I could see where a comma might clarify things depending on usage.
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I don't think there's a name for this specific construction, but it's an example of ellipsis—that is, omission of some words that are understood in context.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
