please help a non pendant

[2shoes]

ds is doing a essay for course work. he is insisting on putting
"the man was atop the building"
i don't think this is right.
told him i would ask in this topic.

You know, I'm prepared to be proved wrong, but I think it's correct, just rather archaic - just not something that's said anymore.

Well it's archaic (old-fashioned) but not actually incorrect. Is he supposed to be writing in the style of a nineteenth-century alderman or something?

Depends on his teacher really - he (your son) could be taking a risk, depending on the mood the teacher is in.

it is gcse coursework so important.

well it's rather an archaic term meaning 'on' or 'at the top of'

but it isn't wrong technically, depending on what he means

the man was on the building
the man was at the top of the building

if he means "the man was on top of the building" I'd write that for preference

pendant .. ver' good 2shoes

What subject 2shoes - I mean, is he supposed to be writing in the style of a historical figure, or is he writing an essay about biology?

I love the way all the pedants have used the term 'archaic'

We get so few chances, policywonk.

he is writing about an assassin who is on top of a building. the subject is English.

Well, if it's English then a decent teacher would give him credit for it I reckon. (But a less good teacher might just think he'd made a mistake and mark him down.)

he says the teach likes them to use unusual words

That's completely fine. It is indeed slightly consciously literary language (you'd see it in one of those novels for children which try to create an old-fashioned or otherworldly sort of atmosphere) but, as an alternative to "on top of", grammatically it is absolutely correct (so I am putting it more strongly than previous posters who've said "not wrong"). He's writing a story, isn't he? All the better for working on atmospheric effects.

So if he gets marked down for it that should be challenged.

thanks. will pass it on.
fancy me spelling pedant wrong lol

I always think of it as pendants too. It's a bit more exciting ...