Legal Writing

Hordes of People Shouldn?t Hoard

By Maeve Maddox

Jacob Marley wants some input on the uses of hoard vs horde:

Perhaps you could take some time to enlighten us on the proper use of
“horde, hoard.” For instance, [this statement from the writer of a software manual]: “I wrote it as a response to the growing hoards of people…” This just sounds *wrong*.

Yes, it’s wrong, but apparently hordes of writers don’t know it.

Pull In Hoards Of People To Your Venue Using Bluetooth Marketing

you can be on your way to an exponentially-growing network with hoards of people begging you to join it!

It was still a little early for the tulips, but unfortunately that didn’t keep away the hoards of people.

And before anyone puts all the blame on us unschooled Americans, here’s an example from the UK’s Independent:

Lest the hoards of people queuing for the gruel be tempted to embrace the diet of the workhouse she was keen to point out its nutritional drawbacks.

Here are some definitions from the OED.

hoard: noun. An accumulation or collection of anything valuable hidden away or laid by for preservation or future use; a stock, store, esp. of money; a treasure.

horde: A great company, esp. of the savage, uncivilized, or uncultivated; a gang, troop, crew.

You can talk about hoards of gold or hoards of food, but when it comes to huge numbers of people, the word you’re looking for is hordes.

Full post as published by Daily Writing Tips on May 12, 2010 (boomark / email).