Here's a bunch of versions of the word “smuggler's boat”. Please tell me which one is best or normal

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;







up vote
1
down vote

favorite












As we English learners do, I fed words to google to find the most popular variation. This is what I ended up with:



 Word: Result count:
A "smuggle boat" 56
B "smuggle ship" 94
C "smuggler boat" 35,500 
D "smuggler ship" 40,900 
E "smuggler's boat" 31,900 
F "smuggler's ship" 11,800 
G "smugglers boat" 16,200 
H "smugglers ship" 34,400 
I "smuggling boat" 28,500 
J "smuggling ship" 27,000


After that my reasoning is as such:



  • A and B is out. I'm guessing it's because here "smuggle" is in verb-form. I rack my brain for other "verb compound words" (or whatever you want to call them!) but I can't come up with anything good.

  • I think either of the other variations (C-J) would be fine? I found the result dip in F peculiar, but I figure that "smugglers" and "smuggler's" is actually the same thing and if you add those results together it evens out.

  • Are there any better words to describe a smuggler's ship? All of those results seems low to me.

  • The nuance between ship and boat is almost synonymous here, correct? The impressions I get is that "ship" might hint of something larger? (sorry if this is a different question!)

Please correct any of my faulty reasoning above! Which one sounds most normal, or is it all the same?



I think my native language "bleeds in", and smuggle ship feels natural to me, even though I now believe it to be wrong. Perhaps I've just read too much Harry Potter - Muggle this, smuggle that!



Thanks for your time!






word-choice idiomatic-language







share|improve this question









New contributor




ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1




    Are you feeding these phrases to Google Books? That's a decent approach, but only if you read the passages in which the phrase appears to see how it is used.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    24 mins ago










  • I see! No, I just fed them the standard search engine using "quoted phrases" to find exact matches. Most of the time I get a clear winner. Now that I'm aware of google books I'll be sure to try it out though!
    – ippi
    10 mins ago










  • Google works well for native speakers who are looking for confirmation or viable alternatives. However, when one is not a native speaker, googling can cause bigger issues than not doing so.
    – Lambie
    53 secs ago

















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












As we English learners do, I fed words to google to find the most popular variation. This is what I ended up with:



 Word: Result count:
A "smuggle boat" 56
B "smuggle ship" 94
C "smuggler boat" 35,500 
D "smuggler ship" 40,900 
E "smuggler's boat" 31,900 
F "smuggler's ship" 11,800 
G "smugglers boat" 16,200 
H "smugglers ship" 34,400 
I "smuggling boat" 28,500 
J "smuggling ship" 27,000


After that my reasoning is as such:



  • A and B is out. I'm guessing it's because here "smuggle" is in verb-form. I rack my brain for other "verb compound words" (or whatever you want to call them!) but I can't come up with anything good.

  • I think either of the other variations (C-J) would be fine? I found the result dip in F peculiar, but I figure that "smugglers" and "smuggler's" is actually the same thing and if you add those results together it evens out.

  • Are there any better words to describe a smuggler's ship? All of those results seems low to me.

  • The nuance between ship and boat is almost synonymous here, correct? The impressions I get is that "ship" might hint of something larger? (sorry if this is a different question!)

Please correct any of my faulty reasoning above! Which one sounds most normal, or is it all the same?



I think my native language "bleeds in", and smuggle ship feels natural to me, even though I now believe it to be wrong. Perhaps I've just read too much Harry Potter - Muggle this, smuggle that!



Thanks for your time!






word-choice idiomatic-language







share|improve this question









New contributor




ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1




    Are you feeding these phrases to Google Books? That's a decent approach, but only if you read the passages in which the phrase appears to see how it is used.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    24 mins ago










  • I see! No, I just fed them the standard search engine using "quoted phrases" to find exact matches. Most of the time I get a clear winner. Now that I'm aware of google books I'll be sure to try it out though!
    – ippi
    10 mins ago










  • Google works well for native speakers who are looking for confirmation or viable alternatives. However, when one is not a native speaker, googling can cause bigger issues than not doing so.
    – Lambie
    53 secs ago













up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











As we English learners do, I fed words to google to find the most popular variation. This is what I ended up with:



 Word: Result count:
A "smuggle boat" 56
B "smuggle ship" 94
C "smuggler boat" 35,500 
D "smuggler ship" 40,900 
E "smuggler's boat" 31,900 
F "smuggler's ship" 11,800 
G "smugglers boat" 16,200 
H "smugglers ship" 34,400 
I "smuggling boat" 28,500 
J "smuggling ship" 27,000


After that my reasoning is as such:



  • A and B is out. I'm guessing it's because here "smuggle" is in verb-form. I rack my brain for other "verb compound words" (or whatever you want to call them!) but I can't come up with anything good.

  • I think either of the other variations (C-J) would be fine? I found the result dip in F peculiar, but I figure that "smugglers" and "smuggler's" is actually the same thing and if you add those results together it evens out.

  • Are there any better words to describe a smuggler's ship? All of those results seems low to me.

  • The nuance between ship and boat is almost synonymous here, correct? The impressions I get is that "ship" might hint of something larger? (sorry if this is a different question!)

Please correct any of my faulty reasoning above! Which one sounds most normal, or is it all the same?



I think my native language "bleeds in", and smuggle ship feels natural to me, even though I now believe it to be wrong. Perhaps I've just read too much Harry Potter - Muggle this, smuggle that!



Thanks for your time!






word-choice idiomatic-language







share|improve this question









New contributor




ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











As we English learners do, I fed words to google to find the most popular variation. This is what I ended up with:



 Word: Result count:
A "smuggle boat" 56
B "smuggle ship" 94
C "smuggler boat" 35,500 
D "smuggler ship" 40,900 
E "smuggler's boat" 31,900 
F "smuggler's ship" 11,800 
G "smugglers boat" 16,200 
H "smugglers ship" 34,400 
I "smuggling boat" 28,500 
J "smuggling ship" 27,000


After that my reasoning is as such:



  • A and B is out. I'm guessing it's because here "smuggle" is in verb-form. I rack my brain for other "verb compound words" (or whatever you want to call them!) but I can't come up with anything good.

  • I think either of the other variations (C-J) would be fine? I found the result dip in F peculiar, but I figure that "smugglers" and "smuggler's" is actually the same thing and if you add those results together it evens out.

  • Are there any better words to describe a smuggler's ship? All of those results seems low to me.

  • The nuance between ship and boat is almost synonymous here, correct? The impressions I get is that "ship" might hint of something larger? (sorry if this is a different question!)

Please correct any of my faulty reasoning above! Which one sounds most normal, or is it all the same?



I think my native language "bleeds in", and smuggle ship feels natural to me, even though I now believe it to be wrong. Perhaps I've just read too much Harry Potter - Muggle this, smuggle that!



Thanks for your time!






word-choice idiomatic-language




word-choice idiomatic-language






share|improve this question









New contributor




ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 32 mins ago









ColleenV♦

10.3k53158




10.3k53158






New contributor




ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 hours ago









ippi

1084




1084




New contributor




ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






ippi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 1




    Are you feeding these phrases to Google Books? That's a decent approach, but only if you read the passages in which the phrase appears to see how it is used.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    24 mins ago










  • I see! No, I just fed them the standard search engine using "quoted phrases" to find exact matches. Most of the time I get a clear winner. Now that I'm aware of google books I'll be sure to try it out though!
    – ippi
    10 mins ago










  • Google works well for native speakers who are looking for confirmation or viable alternatives. However, when one is not a native speaker, googling can cause bigger issues than not doing so.
    – Lambie
    53 secs ago













  • 1




    Are you feeding these phrases to Google Books? That's a decent approach, but only if you read the passages in which the phrase appears to see how it is used.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    24 mins ago










  • I see! No, I just fed them the standard search engine using "quoted phrases" to find exact matches. Most of the time I get a clear winner. Now that I'm aware of google books I'll be sure to try it out though!
    – ippi
    10 mins ago










  • Google works well for native speakers who are looking for confirmation or viable alternatives. However, when one is not a native speaker, googling can cause bigger issues than not doing so.
    – Lambie
    53 secs ago








1




1




Are you feeding these phrases to Google Books? That's a decent approach, but only if you read the passages in which the phrase appears to see how it is used.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
24 mins ago




Are you feeding these phrases to Google Books? That's a decent approach, but only if you read the passages in which the phrase appears to see how it is used.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
24 mins ago












I see! No, I just fed them the standard search engine using "quoted phrases" to find exact matches. Most of the time I get a clear winner. Now that I'm aware of google books I'll be sure to try it out though!
– ippi
10 mins ago




I see! No, I just fed them the standard search engine using "quoted phrases" to find exact matches. Most of the time I get a clear winner. Now that I'm aware of google books I'll be sure to try it out though!
– ippi
10 mins ago












Google works well for native speakers who are looking for confirmation or viable alternatives. However, when one is not a native speaker, googling can cause bigger issues than not doing so.
– Lambie
53 secs ago





Google works well for native speakers who are looking for confirmation or viable alternatives. However, when one is not a native speaker, googling can cause bigger issues than not doing so.
– Lambie
53 secs ago











2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
1
down vote



accepted










C-F are all correct with shades of meaning and context.



A boat is smaller than a ship, so a smuggler's boat probably stays near the coast, while a smuggler's ship might be seaworthy. The two could work together, a larger ship that stays offshore storing contraband and a small boat (tender) that ferries it to shore. A ship generally needs a proper dock, but a boat might be able to land on any beach. There is no clear difference that separates boat and ship so they are often interchangeable.



Replace "smuggler" with "pirate" and it breaks down into similar forms.
A pirate ship is a generic vessel used in piracy, while a pirate's ship is a specific vessel owned by a pirate.



G-H suggest a boat or ship filled with smugglers, the way a cargo ship is filled with cargo. The high Google ranking might be because the apostrophe in smuggler's or smugglers' has been omitted. This phrase would be accurate in certain sentences, but it would be less common.



I-J are awkward in the same way that A-B are. They suggest a vessel that was created for the purpose of smuggling, possibly so specialized that would not be useful as a regular vessel.






share|improve this answer




















  • Thanks for the quick answers! The pirate ship analogy really drove it home for me. But just to confirm my newfound knowledge, if the context were: "I fled to America on a smuggler ship.". This could be seen as correct English because it's not a specific vessel but any vessel. But "I fled to America on a smuggler's ship" could then also be correct (now the ship is specified, but smuggler is not). Or if you were given the choice, would you just avoid the issue with something like "I fled to America on a ship used for smuggling"? Sorry for not bringing context the first time around.
    – ippi
    25 mins ago










  • They are all technically correct. The 1st and 3rd version describe a ship. In the 2nd version I want to hear more about this Smuggler person.
    – wetcircuit
    21 mins ago






  • 1




    I fled to America on a smuggler's ship. Not a smuggler ship. There is no type of ship called a smuggler ship. There is a pirate ship, though. Pirate ship has become a compound noun, smuggler ship is not one. One could imagine in a legal text: the smuggling vessel (a vessel used for smuggling in a particular instance) or smuggler's vessel (the one belonging to the accused smuggler).
    – Lambie
    13 mins ago







  • 1




    @Lambie, it would depend on the time and place. Is the narrator speaking in present day? Or in some past era where smuggling was a common?
    – wetcircuit
    8 mins ago










  • No,it does not depend on time and place.There is no boat or ship that is inherently a smuggler boat or ship. It would still be: smuggler's boat. A boat that belongs to a smuggler. Only pirate ship is a compound noun.
    – Lambie
    2 mins ago

















up vote
2
down vote













Feeding words into google is not the best way to go here.



A smuggler is a person who brings goods into a country illegally.



A boat is a watercraft.



Therefore, a smuggler's boat is a boat used by a smuggler or that belongs to a smuggler to carry out that activity.



A possessive using an apostrophe s means possession or ownership.


The boat of a smuggler=a smuggler's boat.



This is just a case of simple possession. Like: a juggler's hat, or a dancer's shoes.



Please note: ship would just mean something bigger than a boat.



[No, this is not a muggle's boat. Ha ha.]






share|improve this answer




















    Your Answer







    StackExchange.ready(function()
    var channelOptions =
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "481"
    ;
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
    createEditor();
    );

    else
    createEditor();

    );

    function createEditor()
    StackExchange.prepareEditor(
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: false,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    );



    );






    ippi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









     

    draft saved


    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function ()
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f181349%2fheres-a-bunch-of-versions-of-the-word-smugglers-boat-please-tell-me-which-o%23new-answer', 'question_page');

    );

    Post as a guest

















    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted










    C-F are all correct with shades of meaning and context.



    A boat is smaller than a ship, so a smuggler's boat probably stays near the coast, while a smuggler's ship might be seaworthy. The two could work together, a larger ship that stays offshore storing contraband and a small boat (tender) that ferries it to shore. A ship generally needs a proper dock, but a boat might be able to land on any beach. There is no clear difference that separates boat and ship so they are often interchangeable.



    Replace "smuggler" with "pirate" and it breaks down into similar forms.
    A pirate ship is a generic vessel used in piracy, while a pirate's ship is a specific vessel owned by a pirate.



    G-H suggest a boat or ship filled with smugglers, the way a cargo ship is filled with cargo. The high Google ranking might be because the apostrophe in smuggler's or smugglers' has been omitted. This phrase would be accurate in certain sentences, but it would be less common.



    I-J are awkward in the same way that A-B are. They suggest a vessel that was created for the purpose of smuggling, possibly so specialized that would not be useful as a regular vessel.






    share|improve this answer




















    • Thanks for the quick answers! The pirate ship analogy really drove it home for me. But just to confirm my newfound knowledge, if the context were: "I fled to America on a smuggler ship.". This could be seen as correct English because it's not a specific vessel but any vessel. But "I fled to America on a smuggler's ship" could then also be correct (now the ship is specified, but smuggler is not). Or if you were given the choice, would you just avoid the issue with something like "I fled to America on a ship used for smuggling"? Sorry for not bringing context the first time around.
      – ippi
      25 mins ago










    • They are all technically correct. The 1st and 3rd version describe a ship. In the 2nd version I want to hear more about this Smuggler person.
      – wetcircuit
      21 mins ago






    • 1




      I fled to America on a smuggler's ship. Not a smuggler ship. There is no type of ship called a smuggler ship. There is a pirate ship, though. Pirate ship has become a compound noun, smuggler ship is not one. One could imagine in a legal text: the smuggling vessel (a vessel used for smuggling in a particular instance) or smuggler's vessel (the one belonging to the accused smuggler).
      – Lambie
      13 mins ago







    • 1




      @Lambie, it would depend on the time and place. Is the narrator speaking in present day? Or in some past era where smuggling was a common?
      – wetcircuit
      8 mins ago










    • No,it does not depend on time and place.There is no boat or ship that is inherently a smuggler boat or ship. It would still be: smuggler's boat. A boat that belongs to a smuggler. Only pirate ship is a compound noun.
      – Lambie
      2 mins ago














    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted










    C-F are all correct with shades of meaning and context.



    A boat is smaller than a ship, so a smuggler's boat probably stays near the coast, while a smuggler's ship might be seaworthy. The two could work together, a larger ship that stays offshore storing contraband and a small boat (tender) that ferries it to shore. A ship generally needs a proper dock, but a boat might be able to land on any beach. There is no clear difference that separates boat and ship so they are often interchangeable.



    Replace "smuggler" with "pirate" and it breaks down into similar forms.
    A pirate ship is a generic vessel used in piracy, while a pirate's ship is a specific vessel owned by a pirate.



    G-H suggest a boat or ship filled with smugglers, the way a cargo ship is filled with cargo. The high Google ranking might be because the apostrophe in smuggler's or smugglers' has been omitted. This phrase would be accurate in certain sentences, but it would be less common.



    I-J are awkward in the same way that A-B are. They suggest a vessel that was created for the purpose of smuggling, possibly so specialized that would not be useful as a regular vessel.






    share|improve this answer




















    • Thanks for the quick answers! The pirate ship analogy really drove it home for me. But just to confirm my newfound knowledge, if the context were: "I fled to America on a smuggler ship.". This could be seen as correct English because it's not a specific vessel but any vessel. But "I fled to America on a smuggler's ship" could then also be correct (now the ship is specified, but smuggler is not). Or if you were given the choice, would you just avoid the issue with something like "I fled to America on a ship used for smuggling"? Sorry for not bringing context the first time around.
      – ippi
      25 mins ago










    • They are all technically correct. The 1st and 3rd version describe a ship. In the 2nd version I want to hear more about this Smuggler person.
      – wetcircuit
      21 mins ago






    • 1




      I fled to America on a smuggler's ship. Not a smuggler ship. There is no type of ship called a smuggler ship. There is a pirate ship, though. Pirate ship has become a compound noun, smuggler ship is not one. One could imagine in a legal text: the smuggling vessel (a vessel used for smuggling in a particular instance) or smuggler's vessel (the one belonging to the accused smuggler).
      – Lambie
      13 mins ago







    • 1




      @Lambie, it would depend on the time and place. Is the narrator speaking in present day? Or in some past era where smuggling was a common?
      – wetcircuit
      8 mins ago










    • No,it does not depend on time and place.There is no boat or ship that is inherently a smuggler boat or ship. It would still be: smuggler's boat. A boat that belongs to a smuggler. Only pirate ship is a compound noun.
      – Lambie
      2 mins ago












    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted






    C-F are all correct with shades of meaning and context.



    A boat is smaller than a ship, so a smuggler's boat probably stays near the coast, while a smuggler's ship might be seaworthy. The two could work together, a larger ship that stays offshore storing contraband and a small boat (tender) that ferries it to shore. A ship generally needs a proper dock, but a boat might be able to land on any beach. There is no clear difference that separates boat and ship so they are often interchangeable.



    Replace "smuggler" with "pirate" and it breaks down into similar forms.
    A pirate ship is a generic vessel used in piracy, while a pirate's ship is a specific vessel owned by a pirate.



    G-H suggest a boat or ship filled with smugglers, the way a cargo ship is filled with cargo. The high Google ranking might be because the apostrophe in smuggler's or smugglers' has been omitted. This phrase would be accurate in certain sentences, but it would be less common.



    I-J are awkward in the same way that A-B are. They suggest a vessel that was created for the purpose of smuggling, possibly so specialized that would not be useful as a regular vessel.






    share|improve this answer












    C-F are all correct with shades of meaning and context.



    A boat is smaller than a ship, so a smuggler's boat probably stays near the coast, while a smuggler's ship might be seaworthy. The two could work together, a larger ship that stays offshore storing contraband and a small boat (tender) that ferries it to shore. A ship generally needs a proper dock, but a boat might be able to land on any beach. There is no clear difference that separates boat and ship so they are often interchangeable.



    Replace "smuggler" with "pirate" and it breaks down into similar forms.
    A pirate ship is a generic vessel used in piracy, while a pirate's ship is a specific vessel owned by a pirate.



    G-H suggest a boat or ship filled with smugglers, the way a cargo ship is filled with cargo. The high Google ranking might be because the apostrophe in smuggler's or smugglers' has been omitted. This phrase would be accurate in certain sentences, but it would be less common.



    I-J are awkward in the same way that A-B are. They suggest a vessel that was created for the purpose of smuggling, possibly so specialized that would not be useful as a regular vessel.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 56 mins ago









    wetcircuit

    50915




    50915











    • Thanks for the quick answers! The pirate ship analogy really drove it home for me. But just to confirm my newfound knowledge, if the context were: "I fled to America on a smuggler ship.". This could be seen as correct English because it's not a specific vessel but any vessel. But "I fled to America on a smuggler's ship" could then also be correct (now the ship is specified, but smuggler is not). Or if you were given the choice, would you just avoid the issue with something like "I fled to America on a ship used for smuggling"? Sorry for not bringing context the first time around.
      – ippi
      25 mins ago










    • They are all technically correct. The 1st and 3rd version describe a ship. In the 2nd version I want to hear more about this Smuggler person.
      – wetcircuit
      21 mins ago






    • 1




      I fled to America on a smuggler's ship. Not a smuggler ship. There is no type of ship called a smuggler ship. There is a pirate ship, though. Pirate ship has become a compound noun, smuggler ship is not one. One could imagine in a legal text: the smuggling vessel (a vessel used for smuggling in a particular instance) or smuggler's vessel (the one belonging to the accused smuggler).
      – Lambie
      13 mins ago







    • 1




      @Lambie, it would depend on the time and place. Is the narrator speaking in present day? Or in some past era where smuggling was a common?
      – wetcircuit
      8 mins ago










    • No,it does not depend on time and place.There is no boat or ship that is inherently a smuggler boat or ship. It would still be: smuggler's boat. A boat that belongs to a smuggler. Only pirate ship is a compound noun.
      – Lambie
      2 mins ago
















    • Thanks for the quick answers! The pirate ship analogy really drove it home for me. But just to confirm my newfound knowledge, if the context were: "I fled to America on a smuggler ship.". This could be seen as correct English because it's not a specific vessel but any vessel. But "I fled to America on a smuggler's ship" could then also be correct (now the ship is specified, but smuggler is not). Or if you were given the choice, would you just avoid the issue with something like "I fled to America on a ship used for smuggling"? Sorry for not bringing context the first time around.
      – ippi
      25 mins ago










    • They are all technically correct. The 1st and 3rd version describe a ship. In the 2nd version I want to hear more about this Smuggler person.
      – wetcircuit
      21 mins ago






    • 1




      I fled to America on a smuggler's ship. Not a smuggler ship. There is no type of ship called a smuggler ship. There is a pirate ship, though. Pirate ship has become a compound noun, smuggler ship is not one. One could imagine in a legal text: the smuggling vessel (a vessel used for smuggling in a particular instance) or smuggler's vessel (the one belonging to the accused smuggler).
      – Lambie
      13 mins ago







    • 1




      @Lambie, it would depend on the time and place. Is the narrator speaking in present day? Or in some past era where smuggling was a common?
      – wetcircuit
      8 mins ago










    • No,it does not depend on time and place.There is no boat or ship that is inherently a smuggler boat or ship. It would still be: smuggler's boat. A boat that belongs to a smuggler. Only pirate ship is a compound noun.
      – Lambie
      2 mins ago















    Thanks for the quick answers! The pirate ship analogy really drove it home for me. But just to confirm my newfound knowledge, if the context were: "I fled to America on a smuggler ship.". This could be seen as correct English because it's not a specific vessel but any vessel. But "I fled to America on a smuggler's ship" could then also be correct (now the ship is specified, but smuggler is not). Or if you were given the choice, would you just avoid the issue with something like "I fled to America on a ship used for smuggling"? Sorry for not bringing context the first time around.
    – ippi
    25 mins ago




    Thanks for the quick answers! The pirate ship analogy really drove it home for me. But just to confirm my newfound knowledge, if the context were: "I fled to America on a smuggler ship.". This could be seen as correct English because it's not a specific vessel but any vessel. But "I fled to America on a smuggler's ship" could then also be correct (now the ship is specified, but smuggler is not). Or if you were given the choice, would you just avoid the issue with something like "I fled to America on a ship used for smuggling"? Sorry for not bringing context the first time around.
    – ippi
    25 mins ago












    They are all technically correct. The 1st and 3rd version describe a ship. In the 2nd version I want to hear more about this Smuggler person.
    – wetcircuit
    21 mins ago




    They are all technically correct. The 1st and 3rd version describe a ship. In the 2nd version I want to hear more about this Smuggler person.
    – wetcircuit
    21 mins ago




    1




    1




    I fled to America on a smuggler's ship. Not a smuggler ship. There is no type of ship called a smuggler ship. There is a pirate ship, though. Pirate ship has become a compound noun, smuggler ship is not one. One could imagine in a legal text: the smuggling vessel (a vessel used for smuggling in a particular instance) or smuggler's vessel (the one belonging to the accused smuggler).
    – Lambie
    13 mins ago





    I fled to America on a smuggler's ship. Not a smuggler ship. There is no type of ship called a smuggler ship. There is a pirate ship, though. Pirate ship has become a compound noun, smuggler ship is not one. One could imagine in a legal text: the smuggling vessel (a vessel used for smuggling in a particular instance) or smuggler's vessel (the one belonging to the accused smuggler).
    – Lambie
    13 mins ago





    1




    1




    @Lambie, it would depend on the time and place. Is the narrator speaking in present day? Or in some past era where smuggling was a common?
    – wetcircuit
    8 mins ago




    @Lambie, it would depend on the time and place. Is the narrator speaking in present day? Or in some past era where smuggling was a common?
    – wetcircuit
    8 mins ago












    No,it does not depend on time and place.There is no boat or ship that is inherently a smuggler boat or ship. It would still be: smuggler's boat. A boat that belongs to a smuggler. Only pirate ship is a compound noun.
    – Lambie
    2 mins ago




    No,it does not depend on time and place.There is no boat or ship that is inherently a smuggler boat or ship. It would still be: smuggler's boat. A boat that belongs to a smuggler. Only pirate ship is a compound noun.
    – Lambie
    2 mins ago












    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Feeding words into google is not the best way to go here.



    A smuggler is a person who brings goods into a country illegally.



    A boat is a watercraft.



    Therefore, a smuggler's boat is a boat used by a smuggler or that belongs to a smuggler to carry out that activity.



    A possessive using an apostrophe s means possession or ownership.


    The boat of a smuggler=a smuggler's boat.



    This is just a case of simple possession. Like: a juggler's hat, or a dancer's shoes.



    Please note: ship would just mean something bigger than a boat.



    [No, this is not a muggle's boat. Ha ha.]






    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      Feeding words into google is not the best way to go here.



      A smuggler is a person who brings goods into a country illegally.



      A boat is a watercraft.



      Therefore, a smuggler's boat is a boat used by a smuggler or that belongs to a smuggler to carry out that activity.



      A possessive using an apostrophe s means possession or ownership.


      The boat of a smuggler=a smuggler's boat.



      This is just a case of simple possession. Like: a juggler's hat, or a dancer's shoes.



      Please note: ship would just mean something bigger than a boat.



      [No, this is not a muggle's boat. Ha ha.]






      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        2
        down vote










        up vote
        2
        down vote









        Feeding words into google is not the best way to go here.



        A smuggler is a person who brings goods into a country illegally.



        A boat is a watercraft.



        Therefore, a smuggler's boat is a boat used by a smuggler or that belongs to a smuggler to carry out that activity.



        A possessive using an apostrophe s means possession or ownership.


        The boat of a smuggler=a smuggler's boat.



        This is just a case of simple possession. Like: a juggler's hat, or a dancer's shoes.



        Please note: ship would just mean something bigger than a boat.



        [No, this is not a muggle's boat. Ha ha.]






        share|improve this answer












        Feeding words into google is not the best way to go here.



        A smuggler is a person who brings goods into a country illegally.



        A boat is a watercraft.



        Therefore, a smuggler's boat is a boat used by a smuggler or that belongs to a smuggler to carry out that activity.



        A possessive using an apostrophe s means possession or ownership.


        The boat of a smuggler=a smuggler's boat.



        This is just a case of simple possession. Like: a juggler's hat, or a dancer's shoes.



        Please note: ship would just mean something bigger than a boat.



        [No, this is not a muggle's boat. Ha ha.]







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        Lambie

        12k1331




        12k1331




















            ippi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









             

            draft saved


            draft discarded


















            ippi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












            ippi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.











            ippi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













             


            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f181349%2fheres-a-bunch-of-versions-of-the-word-smugglers-boat-please-tell-me-which-o%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest
































































            Comments

            Post a Comment

            Popular posts from this blog

            White Anglo-Saxon Protestant

            Image
            White Anglo-Saxon Protestants ( WASPs ) are a social group of wealthy and well-connected white Americans, of Protestant and predominantly British ancestry, who trace their ancestry to the American colonial period. Until at least the 1960s, this group has dominated American society and culture and dominated in the leadership of the Whig and Republican parties. They usually are very well placed in major financial, business, legal and academic institutions and had close to a monopoly of elite society due to intermarriage and nepotism. [1] During the latter half of the twentieth century, outsider ethnic and racial groups grew in influence and WASP dominance weakened. Americans are increasingly criticizing the WASP hegemony and disparaging WASPs as the epitome of "the Establishment". The Random House Unabridged Dictionary (1998) says the term is "Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive". [2] [3] The term WASP is often used as a pejorative to classify their historical dom...
            Read more

            BuddyTV

            BuddyTV Owner David Niu, Andy Liu Created by Various contributors Website www.buddytv.com Launched July 31, 2007 Current status Offline BuddyTV was an entertainment-based website based in Seattle, Washington, which generated content about television programs and sporting events. The website published information about celebrity and related entertainment news through a series of articles, entertainment profiles, actor biographies and user forums. [1] On 31 December 2014, Smart TV manufacturer VIZIO acquired BuddyTV's parent Advanced Media Research Group, Inc., in order to expand content and service offerings. [2] The site was shut down on 22 May 2018. [3] Contents 1 History 2 Business model 3 Impact 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History BuddyTV was co-founded in 2005 by Andy Liu and David Niu. The pair graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Business Administration. They sold their previous company, NetConversions, to aQuantive in 2004...
            Read more

            Conflict (narrative)

            Image
            Conflict in narrative comes in many forms. "Man versus man", such as is depicted here in the battle between King Arthur and Mordred, is particularly common in traditional literature, fairy tales and myths. [1] In works of narrative, conflict is the challenge main characters need to solve to achieve their goals. Traditionally, conflict is a major literary element that creates challenges in a story by adding uncertainty to if the goal would be achieved. A narrative is not limited to a single conflict. While conflicts may not always resolve in narrative, the resolution of a conflict creates closure or fulfillment, which may or may not occur at a story's end. Contents 1 Basic nature 2 Classification 2.1 Man against man 2.2 Man against nature 2.3 Man against self 2.4 Man against society 3 History 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Basic nature Conflict in literature refers to the different drives of the characters or forces involved. Conflict may be internal o...
            Read more