For as long as I can remember, English bus signs used the word 'standing' when stating the capacity of a bus. Why change it now? Is 'standees American, i wonder?
It makes sense to me. We have Devotees Refugees (Oops Mair sorry to mention that word around you.) Nominees Trustees Referees Trainees Escapees It's taken me while to think of just a few words like this. List a few more such words if you wish. Iam sure most of us know what they refer to.
Ok but it still doesn't sound right though. Imagine someone offering their seat to another passenger to be told 'No thanks, I am happy to be a standee.' You never actually hear anyone say the word, do you? So is a person seated called a sittee, then? Let's have standees and sittees. But Ana, I do stand corrected. (I am a corrected standee) !!
Yes JackyB that sounds about right. Why do people try to write this terrible 'officialese' and before anyone shouts at me I'm not sure if that's a word. It does fit the bill though.
Perhaps they started out with "36 people seated, 10 stood" and decided it sounded strange and, not being able to think of standing, settled for standees. It could be worse; 36 seatees!