Date:  Tue, 21 Nov 1995 10:22:24 -0500

From:  "Bethany Dumas, UTK" <DUMASB[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UTKVX.UTK.EDU>

Subject: dorm



Wayne's response to my question about correcting "dorm" to "residence

hall raises fascinating issues. Wayne said:



" ... students are told that they live in residence halls, not dorms.

Dorms are places that don't matter to the people. ... "



I just checked my online AHD and discovered the ff:



dormitory



1. A room providing sleeping quarters for a number of persons.

2. A building for housing a number of persons, as at a school or resort.

3. A residential community whose inhabitants commute to a nearby metropolis

for employment and recreation.



A residential hall IS a dorm.



Even our elected officials have the good sense to consult a dictionary

when they cannot decide whether "will" and "shall" are sometimes

interchangeable (see p. 1 of the NYTimes yesterday).



What nonsense!



Bethany

dumasb[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]utk.edu