in my opinion by gerard braud
Does an ‘s’ matter?
When it comes to communication, one letter has people up in arms
S
top for a just a moment. Write down the even says I can use their instead of he/she. With
three most important concerns you have. such writing freedom, does the “s” matter?
What weighs heaviest on your mind, life
Some purists suggest that communication means
and career right now? Do it now—write the profession of communicating and that comthree things in the margin. I’ll wait for you.
munications means the technology that allows us
At the time of this writing, I’d likely say the to communicate. Yet add to this the issue that
earthquake in Haiti, the economy, and the diffi- multiple communiqués released at the same time
culty communicators have trying to do their jobs constitute a plural, which would be communicawhile companies cut their budgets. Yep, those tions. For example, I suggest that my clients use
would be my top three big-picture concerns.
numerous tools to communicate during a crisis,
Not showing up as a blip on the radar is hence I specialize in writing crisis communications
whether it is more proper to use the word commu- plans. Should it be crisis communication plans?
nication or communications to describe the various
Webster’s dictionary says communication means
aspects of our collective profession. But much to a verbal or written message. It also means a process
my dismay, the “s” is getting far more attention by which information is exchanged. Meanwhile,
than I would care to discuss and I’m
Answers.com says communications
getting sucked into the debate—and Then it happened: can be used with a singular or plural
I have a feeling you may get sucked
verb and means the art and techin as well.
An editor removed nique of using words effectively to
At the IABC World Conference
impart information or ideas. It also
last year, then again at the IABC my “s” and turned says communications is the field of
Heritage Conference, I was asked for
study concerned with the transmismy opinion on the “s.” One commucrisis communica- sion of information by various
nicator said professors at her univermeans, such as print and broadcastsity had been debating the issue. I
tions into crisis
ing or journalism.
summarily dismissed the question
What does this mean to the
because in the big picture of my life,
communication.
University of Florida’s School of
I don’t care.
Journalism and Communications?
Then it happened. CW Bulletin asked me Will there be a smackdown with the New York
for an article about media training and crisis University Department of Media, Culture and
communications. An editor removed my “s.” Communication?
Yep. No? Really? You took out my “s” and turned
Does your brain hurt yet? Does it matter? Why
crisis communications into crisis communication? do I have a fear that I’m going to get ugly e-mails,
Throughout my article, in every usage, my “s” letters and phone calls about this article?
was gone.
I got suckered into the discussion this time
Specifically, the premise of my discussion was, because the meaning of my article was changed,
“Rapid communications before a crisis and power- but I don’t care to discuss it further. In the big picful communications during a crisis has the ability ture of our world, we have greater things with
to save lives and move people out of harm’s way.” which to be concerned. ●
The Wall Street Journal liked it when I said it to
them. My proofreader had approved it. So why Editors’ note: IABC’s style is to use communication
did they take away my “s”? Why are academics to refer to the practice and process of communicating,
and to the profession itself. We use communications
debating the “s?”
It isn’t covered in Strunk and White’s The to refer to more than one message being delivered—
Elements of Style. In the Associated Press Stylebook, for example, “She received several communications
the issue isn’t covered in preferred plurals, mis- from her client.” Let us know what you think at
spelled words or pet peeves. Heck, the Stylebook [email protected].
48 Communication World • May–June 2010
about the author
Gerard Braud specializes in
media training and crisis communications. He is a member of
IABC/New Orleans and has been
in the field of communications
(or should that be communication?) since 1979.
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