COOPERSTOWN—A member of the Cooperstown Police Department drops the Main Street flag to half mast on September 11, in memory of those who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks. (Photo by Chip Northrup)
Cambridge Dictionary: A flag that is at half mast has been brought down to a point halfway down the pole as an expression of sadness at someone’s death:
The flags at City Hall were all flying at half-mast.
The difference is that Foothills hosts a variety of performances—including the Met—year round. The Glimmerglass facility is open for 28 days this year, or less than 33 percent of the summer season.…
...maybe Mrs. Thompson can turn Bassett around. To quote Margaret Thatcher: “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”…
The lake is very shallow north of the alluvial fan of the Brookwood Creek delta. That swampy area is not a good place to launch a kayak or a rowing shell. At full bloom, the weeds and lily pads are a challenge in a rowing shell. Rowing through lily pads involves cutting them up, a lose-lose proposition.…
Half-staff when it’s on land.
Half-mast when it’s on a ship.
Therefore, Half-staff.
Cambridge Dictionary: A flag that is at half mast has been brought down to a point halfway down the pole as an expression of sadness at someone’s death:
The flags at City Hall were all flying at half-mast.
Associated Press Stylebook: “On ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast. Elsewhere ashore, flags are flown at half-staff.”
Though we primarily use AP style, we do have our own company stylebook that, in some cases, diverges. 🙂
Fair enough. I respectfully concede.