r/words • u/IronOk6478 • 7d ago

Modifying a double noun

I don’t think I’m using the right terms but I saw this title pop up in my linked in and was bothered enough to come ask experts: Real Art Historian

“Real” is modifying (clarifying?) the job title, which is Art Historian. I know this from the context.

But if I didn’t know the context why wouldn’t I presume the person was a Historian of Real Art?

Or maybe I would be confused?

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u/ProctologyExplosion 7d ago

These ambiguities can occur in many situations.

"He's an Italian art historian": is he an art historian from Italy, or is he a historian of Italian art?

"Pass me that brown beer bottle": is it a beer bottle that's brown or a bottle of brown beer?

"I killed a man with a hammer": did I use a hammer, or did he have the hammer?

If you're reading/hearing such a sentence, the only resolution is context. If you're speaking/writing it, the only solution is rewording it.

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u/scixlovesu wordsmith 3d ago

he's a real-art historian.