AmE equivalent of public servants?

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Tanit

#509928 Mon, 05 May 08 05:11 PM

Hi,

Is it correct (in AmE) to refer to people who work for a public administration (both employees and managers) as "public officers"?
(I've looked it up in m-w online and I'm not quite clear if it's appropriate).

I think they should be "public servants" or possibly "civil servants" in BrE.

Thanks in advance!

Tanit

Joined on Mon, Jul 31 2006

In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea

Contributing Member (1,677)

A man can do only what he can do. But if he does that each day he can sleep at night and do it again the next day. (A. Schweitzer)

Clive

#509958 Mon, 05 May 08 06:06 PM

Hi,

Is it correct (in AmE) to refer to people who work for a public administration (both employees and managers) as "public officers"? No.
(I've looked it up in m-w online and I'm not quite clear if it's appropriate).

I think they should be "public servants" or possibly "civil servants" in BrE.

In egalitarian N. America, people don''t like to be called any kind of servant. I often hear 'government workers'.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (19,491)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Grammar Geek

#509972 Mon, 05 May 08 06:18 PM

Yet they will talk with pride about their public service.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (14,781)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Tanit

#509978 Mon, 05 May 08 06:22 PM

Clive
In egalitarian N. America, people don''t like to be called any kind of servant. I

Thanks Clive. That was helpful and funny, too. Smile

If I may ask a second question ... would 'government workers' be appropriate for different tiers of government? (es. municipal administration, state government etc.)
I'm asking it because I'm especially interested in the lower tiers (in Italy, they would be cities and provinces).

Tanit

#509980 Mon, 05 May 08 06:25 PM

Grammar Geek
Yet they will talk with pride about their public service.

Same here. We live in a small world, don't we? Smile

Tanit

Grammar

Clive

#509991 Mon, 05 May 08 06:53 PM

Hi,

In the city, we usually say 'city employees'.

Clive

Tanit

#510042 Mon, 05 May 08 08:51 PM

Thank you again, Clive!

Smile

Tanit

Grammar Geek

#510073 Mon, 05 May 08 10:17 PM

Tanit, if you're writing about specific municipalities in the US and you want to run a few by me, please feel free to e-mail me. I think you still have my e-mail address, but if not, I'll PM you.

Grammar Geek

Tanit

#510078 Mon, 05 May 08 10:29 PM

Thanks, Barb. I've just PMed (?) you. Smile

Tanit

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