



I don’t care how you spell Down’s Syndrome. Spelling won’t affect my son future, open or close doors, or affect his enjoyment of life.
That said, I get enough nasty emails attacking my spelling that I would like an Open Response to link back to.
The “Grammar Vigilantes” invariably refer me to the NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society) “Preferred Language” page:
Down vs. Down’s – NDSS uses the preferred spelling, Down syndrome, rather than Down’s syndrome. While Down syndrome is listed in many dictionaries with both popular spellings (with or without an apostrophe s), the preferred usage in the United States is Down syndrome. This is because an “apostrophe s” connotes ownership or possession. Down syndrome is named for the English physician John Langdon Down, who characterized the condition, but did not have it. The AP Stylebook recommends using “Down syndrome,” as well.
Many moons ago, there was a movement away from calling it Down’s Syndrome (I’m not sure I yet understand the “why”).
Their efforts became the sole evidence that popular usage shifted, and there was a new “preferred usage” (Down Syndrome) on the rise. (I’m trying to replicate the same phenomena: if I just tell enough people that Pete Rose is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, he’ll magically show up there).
“Style Guides” are like, well, you know: every industry has their own (except lawyers, who need 2 style books so they can argue about THAT, too). Here are a handful of other Style Guides:
- ACS Style Guide (Chemical)
- AMA Manual of Style (Medical)
- AP Stylebook (Media)
- ASA Style Guide (Sociologists)
- ALWD & Bluebook (Law)
- Chicago Manual of Style (Editors)
- Strunk’s Elements of Style (Academics, Ivy Leauge)…(Grammar Vigilantes, shouldn’t this be Strunk Element of Style?)
- MHRA Style Guide (Academics in the Arts and Humanities)
- MLA Style Manual (Academics, Liberal Arts)
- New York Times Manual (New York Times only)
- Oxford Guide to Style/New Hart’s Rules (Oxford University, and American English Elitists)
- Publication Manual of the APA (Psychologists)
Not all the Guides are in agreement on spelling of Down’s Syndrome – most don’t even comment on it.
What follows is the official Little Bird Dad Style Manual position on the spelling of Down’s Syndrome (Bottom Line Up Front: Spell it the way you feel is right, and let others have the same experience).
The Genitive Case.
In American English, the genitive case (recognizable by the word “of” or the suffix ‘s) is used to show a relation between 2 nouns. For example:
- John’s iPad, Sandra’s Prius
- Bird’s Motion, War’s End
- America’s women, Mexico’s cocaine
- Montana’s capital, Obama’s Presidency
The genitive case is very utilitarian, and can be used in many ways. Here are just a few:
1. Possession.
Where one noun possesses or owns another noun, the genitive case is used to delineate ownership or possession.
Example: John’s iPad, Sandra’s Prius.
Be careful; this doesn’t necessarily imply John owns the iPad, or Sandra owns the Prius. It might merely be a referential genitive (see below): as in, the Prius that Sandra arrived in, or the iPad John happened to be using.
2. Participatory/Action.
Depending on context, this is called the “subjective genitive” or “objective genitive”: one noun is used to show action, or participation with, another noun
Example: Bird’s motion, War’s End
Does the Bird own the motion? Does the war own the end? Maybe, but it isn’t the concept being communicated. The concept being communicated is one of action, or of participation in an action.
3. Origin.
Where one noun is used to show the origin of another noun, we would again use the Genitive case.
Example: Mexico’s cocaine, America’s women
America doesn’t own or possess the women (although Texas Governor Dick Perry might believe otherwise). One noun (women/cocaine) originates from the other noun (America/Mexico).
4. Referential.
Where one noun communicates a reference, a connection, or a relation to another noun, the genitive case would be used in a referential context. So, for example:
Example: Montana’s capital, Obama Presidency.
Montana doesn’t own or possess its capital (though it might own its capitol), nor does Obama own or possess the presidency. The concept being communicated is the relation between a general noun (presidency, capital) and a more specific one (Montana, Presidency).
The Referential Genitive is common in scientific applications: Bernouli’s Principle, Ockham’s Razor, etc. The phrase communicates a reference to a concept, not that Ockham actually owns a razor.
Conclusion.
When spelled “Down’s Syndrome” the concept being communicated is not that Dr. Down owned or even had the condition. It is expressing a referential relationship between a doctor and the syndrome to which he dedicated his career.
If you want to call it Down Syndrome, I’m totally cool with that: use whatever feels right to you. I’d just like to have the same opportunity. If we can agree to let each other use our own spelling, we can join forces on something much more meaningful, like #JusticeForEthan.
I’m outta here – I’ve got to take my neighbor Prius to the bar to complain about Obama presidency.
Other Posts you Might Like:
Why a Diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome Just Doesn’t Matter.
The Big Myth about a Down Syndrome Diagnosis.
Can Bad Words Add Great Value?




You’re right. It’s not about apostrophes, it’s about people. Thank you for your thoughts, and thank you for following.
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I was not aware of this “controversy.” The “logic” used by NDSS does not seem to apply to Alzheimer’s Disease. He did not have it; he just was the first to describe it.
It’s a small controversy, but judging by the volume of email, one would think it should be covered on Oprah. 😉
Good point about Alz. disease, I plan to borrow that argument. 🙂
Quick question for you – your blog has a “translation” widget to translate it to other languages…where did you find that widget? Have you gotten feedback on the quality of the translations?
Peace,
Little Bird’s Dad
What you do is go to: translate.google.com
There is an option to enter a website page which will be translated to whatever language they have. After entering URL, you will be taken to the site and it will be in the labnuage you selected.
Copy the link in the browser and save it to a text file. Do this for again for each language you want.
Then, use WP widgets to create a text file with links to the saved URLs.
You are the only one to have commented on those translation links. I like tot think it is bringing some folks but since my keywords are only in English….not sure how they would find my blog. Maybe if they knew enough English to search and then read translated page.
Or…translate keywords into a few languages and put them in there. I think I ill start doing that…
Awesome….thanks for the info. I’m going to give it a shot…on this blog, I’m sure I’ll have to find the widget-workaround (wordpress.com), but on my work blog, this will be a huge competitive edge in the Texas and SW markets where my clients are.
Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you back!
Peace,
LBD
I’ve always thought that ‘Down syndrome’, makes it sound really miserable.
As in, that syndrome really brings me down.
I much prefer how we use it in Britain, Down’s syndrome.
As in, it is just a syndrome that Dr Down recognised.
Good stuff LBD.
Cheers
Richard
Though of Irish descent, I am willing to go on record saying I love Britain! 🙂
Thanks for commenting. I’m a big fan of photography blogs/sites…see you’re a pro…do you have a site or a blog I can follow?
Peace,
LBD
I have a few….:
My work one is:
http://richardbaileyphotography.co.uk/
For the last eight years I have curated a touring exhibition concerned with all aspects of Down’s syndrome and the images are here:
http://shiftingperspectives.org/small.html
And for fun and print sales here are a couple more…..
http://fancypoultry.co.uk/
http://www.fancypigeon.co.uk/
Oh and the very sporadic blog:
http://richardbaileyphotography.wordpress.com/
Cheers
Richard
Great stuff!! I’d love to see Shifting Perspectives come to Dallas, open some minds and hearts down here. 😉
I’m going to spend some time combing through your sites…particularly the poultry one…as I’ve only mentioned a couple time on the blog, I’m a big fan of chickens and roosters!
Thanks for all those links!!!
Peace,
LBD
Personally, I’m Australian, and I do prefer people to say that my son has Down Syndrome, rather than Down’s Syndrome. But my pet peeve really is when people say “that’s a Down’s kid/child”, or a Down’s Syndrome child” or even “Down Syndrome” child. Rather, I point out to them that he is a child *with* Down Syndrome – big difference!
He is a child who just happens to have Down Syndrome! In fact, I like to point out that he has more than one disability. When strangers ask hesitatingly, “Does he have….?”, I sometimes (truthfully) answer, “Yes! He is autistic”. Haha!
One more peeve: people who say my son “suffers” from Down Syndrome. What suffering?? He is having the time of his life.
I am totally with you on the phrase “suffering” with DS.
Are you currently in Australia?
Peace,
LBD
Yep, born and bred here. You might like to read my post about my son on my blog. Cheers.
I will do that…spent some time in the early 90’s in Berry, NSW…someday, I’ll get the family over to see your beautiful country!!
Peace,
LBD
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Interesting, my daughter with Down’s Syndrome also has DeGeorge’s Syndrome. I’ve never heard it referred to as DeGeorge Syndrome. I suppose there aren’t enough parents out there with kids like mine who are looking for an argument.
Seems a fairly silly debate, doesn’t it?
But yes, I do insist that if one must comment on the fact that my kid has DS that she is referred to as a “kid with DS” and not as DS or a DS kid. Ooh, how I hate that! And yeah, she does not suffer from DS. She suffers from idiots who make assumptions. lol
I have the same pet-peeve re: “suffering”.
Truth be told, the more folks I meet that have a Down Syndrome diagnosis, the more I feel like I suffer from NeuroTypical Syndrome. 🙂
Peace,
LBD