Crew and crews

English translation: crew and crews

16:00 Nov 25, 2015
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Transport / Transportation / Shipping
English term or phrase: Crew and crews
Hi

Context: talking about more than one captain and more than one crew of several yachts

Ok so I have "captain and crew" for one yacht.
But I am talking about many yachts, many captains and many crew or crews - here is my problem.
I know crew is already a plural word that talks about several people who make up a crew.
But when I want to talk about more than one crew, I have used the phrase "Captains and their crew" making the captains plural and the crew 'belonging to the captain'.
However I also want to talk about more than one crew by using "Captains and crews" for example

"The captains and crews have access to different areas..."

Is this correct? Can anybody see anything wrong with this? Or should it say

"The captains and crew have access to different areas..."

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jill
Jill Bardet (X)
United States
Local time: 11:42
Selected answer:crew and crews
Explanation:
AmE - collective nouns are challenging: group, crew, family, (scout) troop, etc.
In the described situation, I see these possibilities -
Each captain and crew is assigned a unique code to use.
The captains and their (respective) crews met for the general briefing.
Captains and crews must be prepared to start at 0800 hours.

If one section captain has three crews working around the clock, then it would be possible to say "the captain and the crews."
Selected response from:

Rosemary Schmid
Local time: 11:42
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +6crews
Jean-Claude Gouin
5crew and crews
Rosemary Schmid


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
crew and crews
crews


Explanation:
the captains and their crews ...
the captains and their respective crews ...

Jean-Claude Gouin
Canada
Local time: 11:42
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Arabic & More
2 hrs
  -> Merci, Amel ...

agree  Alain Rondeau: Correct!
3 hrs
  -> Merci, Alain ...

agree  Björn Vrooman: Just like: staff(s).
7 hrs
  -> Thank you, Björn ,,,

agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
11 hrs
  -> Thank you, Tina ...

agree  Helena Chavarria: One team and three teams; one teamleader and three teamleaders.
1 day 3 hrs
  -> Thank you, Helena ...

agree  Tushar Deep
1 day 6 hrs
  -> Thank you, Tushar ...
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 days 6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
crew and crews
crew and crews


Explanation:
AmE - collective nouns are challenging: group, crew, family, (scout) troop, etc.
In the described situation, I see these possibilities -
Each captain and crew is assigned a unique code to use.
The captains and their (respective) crews met for the general briefing.
Captains and crews must be prepared to start at 0800 hours.

If one section captain has three crews working around the clock, then it would be possible to say "the captain and the crews."

Rosemary Schmid
Local time: 11:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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