in arrears -- the critical "s"

[Tone]

As the wrong usage has now again been used to me (twice in a month) I wonder if this should go on one of the "how-to-use-the-right-word" pages by the many (?) people here who are gracious enough to prepare them (e.g. Paul and Vv).

(Or even a wiki, 'cos I can't find it there as both words compared -- although each has an entry separately.)

If you do something (or are) "in arrears" it means that it (or you) is late, tardy, or overdue.
If you do something "in arrear" it means that it is after some due agreed period (as opposed to "in advance" for before that period).

So, you might find it quite acceptable to be paid your salary "in arrear" (say, at the end of the month), but you would be very unhappy to be paid "in arrears" (later than you had a right to expect it because the payroll fouled up!).

Tone

[Paul Doherty]

Tone, do you have any citation that supports this distinction?

[ianm]

So does that mean that if you knew you were going to be sick after a certain period, and you were sick after that period, you might suffer from an in arrear infection?

[Dave]

I'm feeling dizzy already!

[Dave]

From Webster's:

arrears n.pl. 1. unpaid and overdue debts 2. any obligation not met on time; unfinished business, work, etc. --in arrears (or arrear) behind in paying a debt, doing one's work, etc.

Arrear was not listed .


From Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus:

arrear n. usu arrears pl syn DEBT 3, arrearage, due, indebtedness, liability

[ianm]

Does that mean that if you knew that after a certain period someone was going to attack from behind, and after that period you were attacked from behind, you were kicked in arrear?

[Dave M]

My 1959 Chambers's Twentieth Century says:
arrear, n. that which is in the rear or behind : (usu. in pl.) that which remains unpaid or undone : (in sing. or pl.) condition of being behindhand.

Looking through the large number of leases and licences handled where I work, it seems that to say "payment in arrears" has been the common practice for many years.

[Barry]

The unfortunate problem caused in a cloth factory, when no colouring chemicals for their cloth arrive: dye arrear.

[Paul Doherty]

This is like one of those pub conversations between five people, where three are trying to have a sensible conversation but the two drunks keep making stupid jokes to each other and giggling uncontrollably.

Unfortunately, I am usually one of those two drunks.

[Geoff]

Jun 23, 2008 7:35:43 GMT Dave said:

From Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus:

arrear n. usu arrears pl syn DEBT 3, arrearage, due, indebtedness, liability

Arrearage ... now where did that come from?

[amanda]

Two VD germs crossing the road, about to squished by a lorry. One turns to the other and says: "I'm a gone-arrear."

sorry

[Paul Doherty]

Now another drunk has joined in!

[Paul Doherty]

All my dictionaries here treat in arrear and in arrears as interchangeable, and both have the meaning of money owing. Of course, it can be owing by agreement (as when one is paid in arrears) or without agreement (as when one's rent is in arrears).

[Tone]

>Tone, do you have any citation that supports this distinction?<

Yup!
Well, I found it in a proper legal dictionary -- but no longer available to me.

I will, however, concede that it is oft (very oft) used "wrongly" , but try this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrears

From which I quote:
"payments at the end of a period is referred to by the singular arrear, to distinguish from past due payments. For example, a housing tenant who is obliged to pay rent at the end of each month, is said to pay rent in arrear, while a tenant has not paid rental due for 90 days is said to be three months in arrears."

Good enough?

My very point is that so many people are unaware of the "correct" distinction that it just carries on and on (with the "s").

Mayhap you would wish to claim that this is your favourite "the language changes". But it's rather nice to know the distinction. (Innit? -- That's just for Twoddle, who would never say "innit". )

Tone

[Paul Doherty]

Jun 23, 2008 20:52:22 GMT Tone said:

Good enough?

I'm afraid not. The article gives no citations, evidence, or references, is ungrammatical, and the part you quoted in fact starts with "In other contexts", without specifying what they are. Wikipedia is not per se authoritative.

Jun 23, 2008 20:52:22 GMT Tone said:

My very point is that so many people are unaware of the "correct" distinction that it just carries on and on (with the "s").

Or, of course, there is no such distinction. We need more evidence.