Argentine or Argentinian/Aregentinean

[Grant Barrett]

Here are three sources on the subject:

Bryan Garner's "Modern American Usage" says, "These terms are
essentially interchangeable in practice, but it would be convenient
for writers and editors to distinguish between them. _Argentine_
should be used primarily as an adjective meaning "of or relating to
Argentina." _Argentinian_ should be used primarily as a noun meaning
"a citizen of Argentina." For purposes of differentiation, it's worth
promoting that distinction." Garner is ever the prescriptivist.

A galley of the new edition of Paul Dickson's "Labels for Locals" say
"_Argentine_, but the term _Argentinian_ commonly finds its way into
print."

The New Oxford American Dictionary has both as noun and adjective
with no stated preference.

Grant Barrett
gbarrett at worldnewyork.org
http://www.doubletongued.org/


On May 31, 2006, at 17:19, Sallie Lemons wrote:

> We've been having an ongoing debate here at work. Thought this was
> the place to have it settled. Are people Argentine and things
> Argentinian or is it the other way around? If the terms are
> interchangeable, is one more preferred than the other?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org