Legal Writing

Peers and Piers

By Maeve Maddox

More proof that traditional literature is in a state of neglect is the frequent occurrence of the spelling piers when the context calls for peers.

I really hope i will [win something] because I have a BIG presentation coming up and that mouse would really impress my piers!

And to set the record straight I am not going on safari for that as the sole purpose. I’d still like to bring home some trophies to brag about and impress my piers!

I’ve listened to the Beatles songs. They were all right, but nothing to impress my piers.

I was a child and wanted to do things that would impress my piers.

I never really thought much about my life until I was in my thirties. Before that time, I was too busy trying to move up the corporate ladder, impress my piers, prove that I was intelligent and go through school.

I have many goals but one of them would be to work or produce a project that would truly impress my piers.

I don’t skate/snowboard to make friends and impress my piers.

I found most of these examples in forums and comments where correct expression is not a priority, but one is from a site offering services for sale, and one is from a poem.

In each of these examples the word wanted is peers.

A peer is a person equal in standing to another. The word comes from Latin par, “equal.” In some contexts it means “noble.” The expression “peer of the realm,” means a member of the aristocracy. The peerage is a system that classifies the aristocracy by rank and title. A woman who belongs to the peerage is a peeress.

In general usage a peer is an equal. The state of equality may be civil, economic, or social. Citizens accused of a crime are to be tried by “a jury of their peers.”

The “equality” can also lie in the area of skill or ability. An extremely gifted craftsman or athlete can be said to “have no peer.”

In French medieval literature, the “twelve peers” are twelve heroic knights like those of the Round Table in the Arthurian tales. In the Song of Roland, the twelve peers include Roland, Oliver, Bishop Turpin, and the traitor Ganelon.

A pier is a vertical support. The structure that supports a bridge is a pier. Cathedrals are built with piers that support the tremendous weight of roof and towers.

Piers are inanimate. They are incapable of feeling admiration so there’s no point in trying to impress them.

Full post as published by Daily Writing Tips on May 18, 2010 (boomark / email).