I have received emails/letters that include ”thanks for your patients” where I’m sure the writer didn’t have  the slightest idea that they really meant “thanks for your patience”. Do you know the difference?

patience: bearing or enduring difficult or trying circumstances, usually in a calm and accepting manner
The audience’s patience was rewarded with a wonderful concert.

patients: people receiving the services of medical practitioners - often ill or injured people but not always
The doctor had a queue of patients waiting to see her during the epidemic.

Given that patients refers to a group of people, it is no surprise that the word ends in s, the common plural ending.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am and is filed under Monday Meanings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.