This is what I said "this piece of music is easy on the ear",but he said it's easy on the ears is correct.I checked my dictionary;it's ear not ears.Is it different in different states of the us?
2007-04-05 10:11:30 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Thanks for your answers.I'm not convinced yet.what about cambridge advanced learner's dictionary? check this out:
easy on the eye/ear
pleasant to look at/listen to:
Her paintings are very easy on the eye.
2007-04-05 10:55:02 · update #1
EAR! Never ears. The terms 'ear for music' and 'easy on the ear' are both well-established in English throughout the world, even though you use both ears.
Skilled Ear For Music May Help Language
Headline, NY Times article, Mar 7, 2007
Not everyone is born with a great ear for music.
http://www.ehow.com/how_16563_play-music-ear.html
be easy on the ear
if music is easy on the ear, it has a pleasant and relaxing sound. When I'm driving, I like to listen to music that's easy on the ear and not too demanding.
See also: ear, easy
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/be+easy+on+the+ear
2007-04-05 13:43:36 · answer #1 · answered by dollhaus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, both are correct. Either "ear" or "ears" refers not just to the sense of hearing but also the message received and interpreted by the brain. You would have to use "ears" if you were talking about the physical comfort of stereo headphones or earphones, but "ear" is OK for music. The same could be said for "easy on the eye" and "easy on the eyes". If you're talking about something (or somebody) that is nice to look at, either one will do, because you are talking about the sense of sight, including the message received and interpreted by the brain. If you're talking about a pair of glasses, you'd have to use the plural "eyes". So both you and your teacher are correct.
2007-04-05 17:28:27 · answer #2 · answered by TitoBob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go with what your teacher thinks. I am an English major and your teachers way sounds better. You have two ears to listen with so it just makes sense that you would listen with both ears. I know I probably won't get the points for disagreeing with you but I only want to help. Take care
2007-04-05 17:16:22 · answer #3 · answered by carly071 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
common usage is what counts, and you can do a quick poll by googling for the phrase "easy on the ear", "easy on the ears" etc. and seeing how many hits you get.
my results were as follows:
easy on the ear: 74,000
easy on the ears: 144,000
easy on the eye: 322,000
easy on the eyes: 1,080,000
pity, but your teacher does seem right this time, but the eyes have it!
2007-04-05 18:55:35 · answer #4 · answered by waif 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The expression is "easy on the ear". If your teacher thinks this is incorrect, he should do some research himself. (I wonder if he's a very young guy. Some young teachers don't know much.)
.
2007-04-05 20:40:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
your right, it's ear not ears. people have different ways of saying things. but yes your teacher is wrong. congrats. it's a great feeling to be right and the teacher wrong
2007-04-05 17:20:41 · answer #6 · answered by nona_luvs_you 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're right. I think you just have to show your teacher the proper one in case he repeats it again. I don't think that it will be different from state to state since this is an expression or quotation.
2007-04-05 17:25:10 · answer #7 · answered by angel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's ears... just as it's easy on the eyes... sorry to support your teacher..
2007-04-05 17:15:43 · answer #8 · answered by TabbieKat Loves You MUCH 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You could use ear, but in this statement it makes more sense to say ears.
2007-04-05 17:28:11 · answer #9 · answered by geek 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, your teacher is just incorrect. The correct term IS "easy on the ear".
2007-04-05 17:17:22 · answer #10 · answered by Shawn B 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋