Layman's Terms - This Not That

This common mistake occurs because the second syllable of “layman’s” is unstressed, causing “man’s” to sound like “men’s.”

For the record, the correct phrase is layman’s terms, not laymen’s terms.

layman’s terms — simple language that anyone can understand (source: merriam-webster.com)

Now you know. :)

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About Julie Corbett

A veteran proofreader of 25 years, Julie is passionate about the English language and teaching others to use it correctly. When she’s not proofreading court transcripts, she’s writing blog content, reading about productivity, or spending time with her family. Contact Julie here.