What’s the President Called?

In honor of Presidents Day (aka Washington’s Birthday), let me comment on something I heard on the radio today. A local station has a segment called “10@10” in which it plays 10 songs devoted to a theme. The theme usually is a particular year, but today it was devoted to rulers, presidents and commander-in-chiefs.

That’s right. The narrator in the intro said “commander-in-chiefs.”

This, of course, is incorrect. It’s commanders-in-chief and follows the same rule as “mothers-in-law,” “chambers of commerce” and “passers-by.”

Call the President what you want (and I’ve heard them all), but make sure you call him the correct name, as stated in Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution: Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.

Or shorten it to Commander in Chief.

Until next time! Use the right words!

leebarnathan.com