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I don't get it.
As a state employee, I periodically get messages containing "Governor's Proclamations", declaring that the US and state flags shall be flown at half staff for one reason or another. The wording of those proclamations, though, continues to baffle me. The most recent one is typical:
On behalf of? I've always understood that to be a benefactive: for the benefit of, in the interests of. This construction baffles me. I first noticed it when Blago the Beloved was governor, but it has persisted under his successor. Has the phrase taken on a new meaning while I wasn't looking?
As a state employee, I periodically get messages containing "Governor's Proclamations", declaring that the US and state flags shall be flown at half staff for one reason or another. The wording of those proclamations, though, continues to baffle me. The most recent one is typical:
Governor Quinn has issued a proclamation that the UNITED STATES FLAG and the STATE FLAG should be flown at half-staff beginning at sunrise Monday, May 30, 2011 until noon on Monday, May 30, 2011 on behalf of Memorial Day.Or sometimes it's "on behalf of State Trooper X" or "Staff Sergeant Y" or whoever.
On behalf of? I've always understood that to be a benefactive: for the benefit of, in the interests of. This construction baffles me. I first noticed it when Blago the Beloved was governor, but it has persisted under his successor. Has the phrase taken on a new meaning while I wasn't looking?
