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 Post subject: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:24 am 
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General Equivalency Diploma? General Equivalency Degree? General Education Diploma or Degree? What does it stand for?<p>I've tried the AP stylebook, my dictionary and the GED home page. The home page continually uses GED as an adjective, e.g. your GED credential, the GED test and describes itself as the General Educational Development Testing Service. So is saying that someone "got their GED" incorrect?<p>Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks to anyone who knows and will tell me.<p>[ June 10, 2004: Message edited by: majorbabs ]</p>


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:41 pm 
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It is a general equivalency diploma, and I see nothing wrong with saying "got his GED." GED can be used as either an adjective or a noun.<p>My son has one, and everyone involved in the process--we had many hoops to jump through, as he was underage--routinely talked about his "getting" it.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:48 pm 
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SusanV:
It is a general equivalency diploma, and I see nothing wrong with saying "got his GED." GED can be used as either an adjective or a noun.<p>My son has one, and everyone involved in the process--we had many hoops to jump through, as he was underage--routinely talked about his "getting" it.<hr></blockquote><p>Our styleguide says:<p>General Educational Development, not General Equivalency Diploma. Don't refer to a GED as a degree or a diploma. It's a credential that documents high school-level academic skills.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:54 pm 
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Walter:
<p>Our styleguide says:<p>General Educational Development, not General Equivalency Diploma. Don't refer to a GED as a degree or a diploma. It's a credential that documents high school-level academic skills.<hr></blockquote>Interesting. I guess whoever wrote your stylebook has never seen what's printed on the certificate that is awarded.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 1:55 pm 
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Well, remember that General Educational Development is actually the name of the company. The question is if GED can ALSO stand for something else, like a General Equivalency Diploma.<p>Thanks to all who responded. The verdict: let GED stand on its own and assume that everyone knows its meaning, rather than print an incorrect acronymial definition.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 1:58 pm 
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I have to add that after working for American Tool Company in the 80s, I now say "Vise-Grip locking hand tools" -- which is correct -- rather than "vise-grips," even though that's how it's most often used colloquially. <p>I thought it might be the same with GED. Seems it is.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 3:51 pm 
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Babs, you must get some interesting looks from hardware-store employees.<p> <blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by majorbabs:
So is saying that someone "got their GED" incorrect?<hr></blockquote>I always changed "their" ("his" or "her," actually) to "a" in sentences like that, reasoning that if someone received something, it's redundant to say it's theirs. (I also changed "earned," when found, to "received," since we don't know if the person actually earned the sheepskin.)


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:05 pm 
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Actually GED is in Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th edition, with General Educational Development listed first as first definition for a trademark, and "general equivalency diploma" as the meaning for the abbreviation ....


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:20 pm 
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Thanks, JJ. It may be time for a new dictionary.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:31 pm 
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Once again corporate America is trying to hijack our heritage. GED as general equivalency diploma existed long before some testing company decided to use GED as its initials. Now Donald Trump wants to patent the phrase "You're fired.' Well I was fired plenty of times before Donald Trump earned his first 100 million bucks!


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 6:02 pm 
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 12thfret:
Once again corporate America is trying to hijack our heritage. GED as general equivalency diploma existed long before some testing company decided to use GED as its initials. Now Donald Trump wants to patent the phrase "You're fired.' Well I was fired plenty of times before Donald Trump earned his first 100 million bucks!<hr></blockquote> I wouldn't blame corporate America for this one. The testing service, which is more or less the high school equivalent of the College Board, is part of the American Council on Education.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 7:37 pm 
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A curse on abbreviations. GED it? Got it? Good.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:30 am 
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Wiggins, you aren't quoting "The Court Jester," are you? Enjoying the wordplay, regardless.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 11:53 am 
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The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true.


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:21 pm 
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by KfitzR:
The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true.<hr></blockquote>Does this mean we have to buss the birthmark on the backside of a baby?


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 Post subject: Re: GED equals.... what?
PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 2:46 am 
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by majorbabs:
Wiggins, you aren't quoting "The Court Jester," are you? Enjoying the wordplay, regardless.<hr></blockquote><p>Get it? Got it? Good. comes from the rather sardonic English teacher I had when I was 13. A wonderful man.<p>[ June 13, 2004: Message edited by: Paul Wiggins ]</p>


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