Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. (asker) Oct 21, 2013:

Thank you, Amel for your comments and suggestion. By the way "Zareh" would be fine :)

Arabic & More Oct 21, 2013:

@Dr. Zareh,
Depending on the context, you might also consider using "on-site staff."

Arabic & More Oct 21, 2013:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=154924723

Here, it's just an informal chat between colleagues suggesting they have their own group on the forum, which the poster calls a "crew."

http://fotcoh.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/the-pharmacy-crew/

Here, again, it is clear from the context that the setting here is less formal than a standard pharmacy setting. It seems to be a group of pharmacists who have gotten together in order to work on a charitable project in Haiti. Here the word "crew" is being used in a friendly way to mean "team."

I do not mean for it to sound as though I am lecturing you on the use of the word crew. I have understood from some of your previous posts that you have a background in pharmacy, and you may be correct about what "crew" means in that context. My only point is that the examples you have chosen do not illustrate this. Further, contrary to what you stated, the word "staff" is definitely also acceptable and is most likely the safest choice here.

Arabic & More Oct 21, 2013:

Salam Doaa,

I haven't worked in a pharmacy to comment on the use of crew in that context, but there are two things I would like to point out:

1. The word "staff" definitely is used in the context of pharmacies. There are numerous official examples of this usage in both the U.S. and Britain, such as the following:

http://www.uhb.nhs.uk/pharmacy-staff.htm

http://spahp.creighton.edu/welcome-cumc-pharmacy/meet-staff

2. The word "crew" has multiple meanings. It can mean the people who work together, but it can also mean a group of friends. In each of the specific examples you gave, the word is being used in a more informal way:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19711222&id=C...

In the first example, they are talking about a pharmacy, a McDonald's restaurant, and some stores competing against each other in a sporting event. From the context, it is clear that the word "crew" is used in a way to show you that the people work together, but they are also buddies who play together on a team.

To be continued in a second post due to space limitations...

Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. (asker) Oct 21, 2013:

Thank you, Doaa for your help amd clarifications. I do agree with you that "crew" is used in the sense that you mention. However, like many other cases, in this context my preference would be "staff / team". This does not reflect on your being right or wrong. YOu are right. Crew ** is ** an option... IT is not limited to ships... Thank you again.

Doaa Alnajjar Oct 21, 2013:

Crew is related to sea, air & films but also admin teams in pharmacies are called crew not staff

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19711222&id=C...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=154924723

http://fotcoh.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/the-pharmacy-crew/

Hope it is not hidden this time too.