Order vs. orders

[Souba73]

Hi Alan,

It has always been confusing to me to use 'order' or 'orders' as in the sentences given below:

1.Mr. Roy will look after the duties of Administrative Officer till further order/orders.
2. I am under orders/order not to allow anyone into the garden.

Souba73

[Alan]

Hi Souba,

In both your sentences you need the plural orders. THis means ' strict instructions'. If you used the singular 'order', this would have the sense of a legal requirement as in: Children are not allowed to play games on this grass by order of the Council. The singular form of course is also used when you have arranged to buy something from a shop. About five minutes ago for example I received an email from a store where I had paid for an item of clothing which was not available at that time and the email has just arrived from the store stating: Your order has arrived and so now I can collect it from the shop.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Souba73]

Hi Alan,
You mean : orders = strict instruction & order = legal instruction. As per OALD, 'Order' (instruction) is countable noun and OALD has not differentiate 'order' from 'orders'. I would like to know the reference that you have cited. Further, my question is that if a court issues a legal instruction which is also strict, what should I use 'order' or 'orders'.

Regards,

Souba

[Alan]

I can only repeat that 'order' is an authoritative requirement telling you what you can or can't do and in your example above it would be 'By order of the court'. 'Orders' are written or spoken instructions that should be followed/complied with.
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[Souba73]

Hi Alan,

Do you mean that when we use 'orders', there should not be any legal implications?

souba73