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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think colleague is ridiculous? (Grammar)

67 replies

babystormi · 03/05/2018 08:24

I have a new admin job and part of that is sending letters out to solicitors.

I’m in training so colleague (who’s worked in the role a good 15 years) corrected me on this -

On the address I put the company name as “Solicitor & Lawyer” ... exactly how they have their company name on their own letter and website etc but despite this I was told it was unprofessional and I need to put “Solicitor and Lawyer”.

Who’s right?

OP posts:

Problematique · 03/05/2018 08:27

You've followed the brand guideline by using the same wording as the letter and website. You are in the right. However if it's your boss correcting you I would fall in line with them.

TERFragetteCity · 03/05/2018 08:28

What is it on companies house info? That is what I use when sending out contracts.

cloudtree · 03/05/2018 08:29

As a solicitor I think the strangest thing is the fact that the solicitors themselves refer to themselves as "solicitors and lawyers"

Its a bit like a teacher describing themselves as "teacher and school worker" or a consultant saying "consultant and doctor"

But I know that wasn't your question. I doubt the solicitor would even notice. It isn't unprofessional.

Original poster

babystormi · 03/05/2018 08:35

As a solicitor I think the strangest thing is the fact that the solicitors themselves refer to themselves as "solicitors and lawyers"

Its a bit like a teacher describing themselves as "teacher and school worker" or a consultant saying "consultant and doctor"

You’ve confused me .., I’ve not heard a Solicitor say I’m a Solicitor and Lawyer

OP posts:

leighdinglady · 03/05/2018 08:38

cloud I think OP has just written Solicitors & Lawyers to avoid having to write the forms true name, which is presumably made of of Name & Name

restingbemusedface · 03/05/2018 08:42

@cloud

MollyHuaCha · 03/05/2018 08:44

'&' is more casual than 'and'.

In the same way '1', '2', '3' and '4' are more casual than 'one', 'two', 'three' and 'four'.

If they want the formality of the written word, I don't see a problem at all.

PaintedHorizons · 03/05/2018 08:45

I'd say boss is right. But as she is the boss and that's the way they do it in that office that's the way to do it

Familylawsolicitor · 03/05/2018 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PlanesOverMe · 03/05/2018 08:50

What FamilyLaw said.

Pandora1box · 03/05/2018 08:56

My boss (public sector) hates us to use an ampersand as he thinks it looks unprofessional, even though the organisation regularly uses ampersands in their literature. It tends to be a personal preference thing but as he is my boss it is now ingrained into me not to use them.

KirstenRaymonde · 03/05/2018 09:00

Using and or an ampersand is entirely a stylistic choice and nothing to do with grammar. If the house style is ‘and’ then that’s just something to learn.

BarbaraofSevillle · 03/05/2018 09:02

You should follow the style and grammar of the recipient, even if you consider it be wrong.

Eg All Marks and Spencer branding is M&S not M and S. M&S Bank, M&S energy etc. You wouldn't address a letter to M and S.

senua · 03/05/2018 09:05

A Solicitor will always call their client by their preferred name, even if it is something ridiculous along the lines of Lord Yan Tyan Blethera of Methera and his wife The Nonsense of MadeUpness.
They would appreciate the same courtesy being returned to them. How dare your boss tell them their company name is 'wrong'!

gingergenius · 03/05/2018 09:11

Ampersand usage rules here: www.probizwriters.com/PBW-blog/index.php/ampersand-usage/

AjasLipstick · 03/05/2018 09:13

Cloud Surely OP means "Jones & Edwards" or whatever...not literally "Solicitor & Lawyer"

morningconstitutional2017 · 03/05/2018 09:18

It's hateful but when you're new to a job it's better to bite your lip and do as you're told, no matter how much it sticks in your craw.

I've temped in a few offices and many a time I had to type something which I knew to be grammatically incorrect simply to save a senior colleague's ego which was highly annoying.

As I was 'just a typist' and was only educated to CSE level it was implied that they knew best. I can tell you that some of these people had actually been to university but could barely write or spell. Some of the better ones actually admitted it but the sensitive insecure types couldn't be challenged - very frustrating.

Ghostontoast · 03/05/2018 09:21

I got ticked off by putting a full stop after an abbreviation!

Gilead · 03/05/2018 09:31

Using an ampersand in the address or heading is perfectly acceptable. However, it should not be used in the body of the letter.

PuppyMonkey · 03/05/2018 09:33

I have worked in newspapers nearly all my life and each one has what we call a "house style" - which includes things like "don't use a &" use "and" instead. It's all slightly daft, but we get told to change any use of &.

I'm not saying a lawyer's office is exactly the same as a newspaper, but perhaps they also have a house style which they want to stick to in order to avoid any kind of confusion, to be as clear as possible?

senua · 03/05/2018 09:38

This is a list of the top 200 law firms. I started counting how many had an ampersand in their name: I got bored after a dozen.
It then occurred to me that there was only one single 'and' in that list (and a '+' ). So your boss is totally wrong!

If your boss was writing to Shoosmiths would he correct it to Shoesmiths? Would he call Mundays, Mondays? Would he call Wright Hassall, Right Hassle?

nellieellie · 03/05/2018 09:43

Your boss is ridiculous. The name is whatever the name is, and that will be how it’s written on their letterhead. It’s like insisting on calling someone Margaret when their name is Maggie. Your boss needs to think of it as in inverted commas. I used to work for a firm of solicitors that was H....& P..... I saw many letters. If Id seen one that had H and P it would have been funny. Similarly all the PAs sent out letters to other firms using “&” where necessary. I feel for you. I’d find it hard putting something silly on my work because a stupid person knows no better - like insisting on an apostrophe for a plural.

HazelBite · 03/05/2018 09:51

Should read Messrs. Solicitor and Lawyer, that is how I was instructed to write to law firms when working in the Court Service.

craigglen · 03/05/2018 09:57

When I was training to be a secretary years ago I was taught that '&' was only used in company names, and not in any other context. In any other context it should be 'and'

Nanny0gg · 03/05/2018 10:04

You should follow the style and grammar of the recipient, even if you consider it be wrong.

^This (even when they've used lower case letters not capitals )

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