Q. What's up with the noun "troop"? The definition of this word as I learned it and as defined by Merriam-Webster is "a group of soldiers." Yet, so frequently these days, I hear or read lines such as "three troops were injured today," with the reference being made to three soldiers, with "troop" being used to mean an individual soldier. Help! — Dave Cyr, East Hartford, Conn.

A. The cavalry is on the way! In fact, "troop" was originally a collective noun for a unit of cavalry, and later for a battery of artillery or a company of infantry. Back then, the plural "troops" referred to two or more of these units, as in, "Four troops of soldiers were standing at attention."

But soon "troops" became a general term for a large number of individual soldiers. So when a president requested 10,000 more troops, he meant 10,000 soldiers, not 10,000 units of soldiers.

From then on, it was a slippery slope. Once people started referring to "100 troops" or "50 troops" or "three troops," as in your example, the concept of "troop" as a unit of soldiers had become virtually lost.

A few years ago, I naively proclaimed my "Ten Stout-hearted Men and/or Women" rule, outlawing the use of "troops" for any number below 10. Obviously, I have great influence, for, since then, the use of "troops" to refer to fewer than 10 soldiers has multiplied by a factor of 10.

Now I'm reduced to fighting a desperate, rear-guard battle, hoping to salvage only one precious prohibition: the use of "troop" to refer to one soldier, as in, "the Marines rescued one U.S. troop."

Q. Could you clarify the difference in the use of "hanged" and "hung"? — Nate Evans, Collinsville, Conn.

A. In formal English, "hanged" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "hang" when referring to execution by hanging," as in, "The British hanged Nathan Hale," or "Nathan Hale was hanged." "Hung" is the past tense and past participle of "hang" in all other senses of the word, as in, "I hung my coat on the rack."

But in casual speech and writing, this distinction is often ignored. It's common for people to use "hung" for "hanged" when referring to executions, as in, "He was hung for his crimes." Less frequently, people use "hanged" as the past tense for non-executions, as in, "Mary hanged the beautifully rendered painting on the wall." So that painting was well executed in more ways than one.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254