This morning, I was watching the Senate hearings with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and something gets referenced here that always bugs me deeply whenever it happens. Both sides tend to do it in the past, but mostly I've fouod it to be Republicans when talking to "their own." And that's referring to the Attorney General as "General." Here's the thing --
The word "General" in the title is NOT a noun, it is an *adjective." He is not the Attorney who is a GENERAL leading his fellow lawyers into battle. He is the Attorney who oversees everything in general, rather than having a single, specific area of influence. Basically, he's a "general Attorney." Not an attorney who is a General. Indeed, the correct plural is Attorneys General (which happily we do sometimes see from those who know what they're talking about). Not Attorney Generals. Those who misuse the name do it either out of ignorance (which I think is common about this title, similarly with the Surgeon General) or more often (I believe) to suggest importance. It bugs me -- and I believe I'm right to be bugged by it. When any Attorney General is under fire, as Jeff Sessions is here, giving him a sense of undue importance by calling him "General" inappropriately shifts the weight of the argument. Mr. Chairman, I return my time to the committee.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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