Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)

[Beverly Flanigan]

Some talk show (or news hour) hosts have used "General," perhaps naively,
I'll admit.  Also, haven't some of the SGs been in uniform during their
tenure?  This might lead people to believe they should be called "General."

At 03:54 PM 3/27/2006, you wrote:
>"To my knowledge, no one ever calls the Surgeon General 'General.'
>'Doctor' is used instead."
>
>   Read all about it: http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/life/spring2003/generals/ .
>
>   JL
>
>Beverly Flanigan <flanigan at OHIO.EDU> wrote:
>   ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
>Sender: American Dialect Society
>Poster: Beverly Flanigan
>Subject: Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>The Surgeon General is always addressed as General.
>
>At 01:34 PM 3/27/2006, you wrote:
> >I think the question was about how attorneys general are addressed. When
> >Alberto Gonzales appears before congress, is he addressed as General
> >Gonzales? I think this happens at least sometimes.
> >
> >-Matt Gordon
> >
> >
> >On 3/27/06 11:43 AM, "Dennis R. Preston"
>wrote:
> >
> > > I guess I don't understand. If he is the attorney for general
> > > matters, then he is a "general attorney," just like a court martial
> > > is court (N) plus martial (adj) a "military court."
> > >
> > > dInIs
> > >
> >
> > >> ~~~~~~~~~~~
> > >> I've no beef with adjectives following nouns, a la francais. This still
> > >> doesn't explain why we address this (general interest) attorney as
> > >> "General" if it isn't meant as a rank.....?
> > >> AM
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > >> W stands for >:< War ____Waste___Wiretaps____Witchhunts >:<
> > >>
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > >>
> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Dennis R. Preston
> > > University Distinguished Professor
> > > Department of English
> > > Morrill Hall 15-C
> > > Michigan State University
> > > East Lansing, MI 48824-1036 USA
> > > Office: (517) 353-4736
> > > Fax: (517) 353-3755
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------
> >The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
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>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
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