Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hello,

Just a quick question. Which is better?

nationwide satellite training service

or

satellite nationwide training service

Thanks,

Nawee

[CP]

First one is better. It's a satellite training service that operates nationwide, right?
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[nawee]

What if it is a nationwide training service via satellite? Can we say Satellite Nationwide Training Service? To be honest, it sounds odd to me. Personally, I prefer Nationwide Training Service by Satellite. However, I would appreciate a native speaker's opinion.

Thank you,

Nawee

[CP]

By using initial capital letters, you are indicating a name or title of something, rather than a description. A company could be named Satellite Nationwide Training Service or Nationwide Satellite Training Service or Nationwide Training Service by Satellite, and no one could quibble with the grammar or the sound.

If you mean to describe a training service that is nationwide and is available by satellite, then I think "nationwide training service by satellite" is the most natural way to say it.

Was this something you read or heard? Was it on a test of some sort?
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[nawee]

It's not a English test. A company would like something like a tag line under the company's name to explain its service. I was asked to see which noun phrase was better. As I said, I thought "Nationwide Satellite Training Service" sounded better, although both mean more or less the same thing. I just wanted to ask a native speaker to be sure, that's all.

Thank you for your answer, CP.

Nawee