Date:  Fri, 4 Aug 1995 10:42:00 EST

From:  Electronic Products Magazine <0004276021[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MCIMAIL.COM>

Subject: "tribal members"



Here's a copy-editing question from an article in another publication,

"Sandia Science News." Is anyone bothered by the following sentence,

taken from an article about Indians using new methods of food

processing:



"Tribal members are using solar power to dry crops quickly."



Should the adjective be "tribe" since the adjective "tribal" means,

according to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, "of, relating

to, or characteristic of a tribe"? Would you describe membership as

'tribal"? If I had copy-edited this sentence, I would have said

"Members of the tribe"; I know my solution begs the question. Any

insights?







Leonard Schiefer            lschiefer[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]mcimail.com

Chief Copy Editor

Electronic Products Magazine

Garden City, NY