native ear/s

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It sounds wrong to my native ear/ears.

Sometimes I see 'ear' and sometimes 'ears'. I'm confused,

Which is correct?

Many thanks.

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Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 126 • Replies: 5

[+2] - Shapeless - 09/10/2008Both are acceptable.
[+2] - McTag - 09/11/2008 I agree, but prefer "ear".
[+2] - Shapeless - 09/11/2008I prefer the singular as well because it makes the phrase more consistent with other "anatomical" phrases: going on foot invisible to the eye lend me a hand
[+1] - McTag - 09/11/2008You do see both. "He has the ear of the president" "[i]Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears"[/i] I like "ear" because in this sense it is a...
[+1] - tanguatlay - 09/11/2008Thanks, fellow members, for your reply.

@tanguatlay,

Both are acceptable.

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@Shapeless,

I agree, but prefer "ear".

2 Replies

@McTag,

You do see both.

"He has the ear of the president"

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears"

I like "ear" because in this sense it is a figurative, not a literal use, meaning "mind" or "understanding".

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@McTag,

I prefer the singular as well because it makes the phrase more consistent with other "anatomical" phrases:

going on foot
invisible to the eye
lend me a hand

native ear/s

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