Jul 20, 2011 17:58
12 yrs ago
English term
demise
English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
stylistic usage restrictions
In a letter of condolence, in a phrase "We are much grieved by the demise of John Doe". John Doe is a senior citizen.
Several native speakers offered their criticism, varying from "can't be used as the deceased was not young" - probably that influenced by the collocations like "untimely/early demise" to "can't say that of a person".
Available dictionaries supplied no usage notes.
Questions:
a) can "demise" be used in this context at all
b) is the whole phrase "kosher" enough
TIA
Several native speakers offered their criticism, varying from "can't be used as the deceased was not young" - probably that influenced by the collocations like "untimely/early demise" to "can't say that of a person".
Available dictionaries supplied no usage notes.
Questions:
a) can "demise" be used in this context at all
b) is the whole phrase "kosher" enough
TIA
Responses
| 4 +4 | yes and yes |
DLyons
|
| 4 +7 | the passing of |
benettfreeman
|
| 4 +1 | demise=death |
Martin Riordan
|
Responses
+4
7 mins
English term (edited):
demise, n: stylistic usage restrictions
Selected
yes and yes
1) There are no age implications. This derive from a legal usage.
2) Nowadays it sounds very formal but is not "unkosher".
2) Nowadays it sounds very formal but is not "unkosher".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Armorel Young
: personally I think it's fine in a certain style of writing (and "we are much grieved by" is also on the formal & archaic side); people go to all sorts of lengths to avoid saying "death" and this is just one of them
28 mins
|
|
Thanks Armorel.
|
|
| agree |
Jack Doughty
41 mins
|
|
Thanks Jack.
|
|
| agree |
Shera Lyn Parpia
: Do I live in another world? I hear this word quite often.
1 hr
|
|
Thanks Shera.
|
|
| agree |
Tony M
: I think it sounds dated and even archaic, but it is used, albeit making the tone particularly formal
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Tony.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you!"
+7
3 mins
English term (edited):
demise, n: stylistic usage restrictions
the passing of
Demise seems too impersonal and clinical for this context. It is not a well-used word in the modern age. I would recommend using 'passing', as it is sensitive and sympathetic.
Example sentence:
"We are sorry to hear of the passing of John Doe"
Note from asker:
| thank you! but suppose the context is formal enough - still a no-go? (the thing is, I cannot change the text now and I need to know if that phrase ) |
| thank you! but suppose the context is formal enough - still a no-go? (the thing is, I cannot change the text now and I need to know if I blundered with that phrase and if yes - how badly) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jenni Lukac (X)
3 mins
|
| agree |
Liz Dexter (was Broomfield)
: It's not wrong or rude, just over-formal and archaic. On the grounds that it's better to overdress than underdress, I'd think it OK. Also if the receiver knows you are not a native speaker, they will be more understanding
20 mins
|
| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: Passing is better but demise is not wrong - I don't think asker has anything to worry about.
2 hrs
|
| agree |
William Howden
6 hrs
|
| agree |
amarpaul
: Passing is better, but demise is OK
10 hrs
|
| agree |
Donna Stevens
13 hrs
|
| agree |
Thuy-PTT (X)
22 days
|
+1
22 mins
Martin Riordan
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Brazil
Brazilian lawyer - 40+ years in Brazil
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK, Irish, US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Scottish) 
, Portuguese (Variants: Brazilian, Mozambican, Angolan, European/Portugal) 
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
42
English term (edited):
demise, n: stylistic usage restrictions
demise=death
I see no problem in using the term demise in this context. It simply means death, as far as I know, with no other implications. It can also be used in other contexts, as shown in the link below.
Reference:
Discussion