Of ostriches’ heads
Over the last few days, Howard Bashman and Judge Richard Posner have debated a singular-versus-plural question. It started with this sentence in a Posner opinion:
The reference of course is to the legend that ostriches when frightened bury their head in the sand.
Howard questioned Judge Posner’s use of the singular head:
And while we are debunking canards (which, by contrast, are birds that can fly), allow me to question the use of the singular “head” in the following sentence from Judge Posner's opinion: “The reference of course is to the legend that ostriches when frightened bury their head in the sand.”
To which Judge Posner replied:
Dear Prof. Bashman, to say “ostriches hide their heads in the sand” would imply that each ostrich had more than one head.
Richard Posner
P.S. And yes, canards fly—glad you caught the pun.
Who has the better end of this debate? According to linguistics professor Mark Liberman, Howard does. In a lengthy post on Language Log, he catalogs hundreds of years’ usage of head versus heads, and finds that heads heads head by more than 91:9.
As for myself, I agree with Howard: When in doubt, write around the problem. “The reference of course is to the legend that an ostrich when frightened buries its head in the sand.”
Funny how your advice "when in doubt, write around the problem" resembles appellate decision making. Avoid reaching the merits by relying on a procedural device!
A former California appellate justice once told me to view the route from notice of appeal to opinion on the merits as a freeway, and every exit is a way for the court to decide the case without reaching the merits. If the court can take an exit, it will.
Posted by: Greg May | 04 July 2008 at 01:14 AM