Troop(s)

[tapper]

What is the correct usage of the word troop(s)? I see on news websites and on TV broadcasts the usage of troop to mean an individual--"Six Troops Injured" where they actually mean six soldiers injured. Doesn't the word troop mean a group of soldiers and troops, more than one group of soldiers?

[Ramoney]

Originally Posted by tapper

What is the correct usage of the word troop(s)? I see on news websites and on TV broadcasts the usage of troop to mean an individual--"Six Troops Injured" where they actually mean six soldiers injured. Doesn't the word troop mean a group of soldiers and troops, more than one group of soldiers?

Troop does mean group of soldiers. The individual in the troop is refered to as a trooper.

Which news organization are you talking about? Is it Fox?

[DanielScocco]

Yeah I am curious to know who wrote or said that as well .

[alicevee]

According to my husband, a veteran of both the Army and the Navy, it's common military slang to use troop to indicate a single soldier.

[Vismay]

I looked up the word in an online dictionary, it tries to explain it with "45 troops were killed"!!! But again contradicts itself by saying that it is "a body of soldiers"!!

[saby60]

As the word `troop' stands for a group of soldiers, I too wonder how "45 troops were killed"!!! This is a gross misuse of the word.

[michael420ts]

From what I understand troops is fine when referring to a group of paramilitary or military personnel.

[DanielScocco]

Originally Posted by saby60

As the word `troop' stands for a group of soldiers, I too wonder how "45 troops were killed"!!! This is a gross misuse of the word.

Unless it was really an awful massacre where 45 groups of troopers got killed .

[bhatia]

I think it is common practise to use troop for a single soldier. If you search google you will find many news link that used troop as single person.

Check all these examples..
-Iraq: 31 US troops injured, three dead
-According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 1800 US troops are currently suffering from traumatic brain injuries. INJURED TROOPS: For the ...
-Two more soldiers were reportedly injured during the fire by advancing troops.

[--Deb]

Funnily, the first place I saw this ("troop" used as a single individual) was in the sci-fi Liaden books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. It was only AFTER reading them that I started noticing it in things like news reports. Go figure!