In attendance

[Perry Lassiter]

Several times in the last two or three days I have encountered from otherwise capable writers "in attendance." It's an ill phrase, a vile phrase, in attendance is a vile phrase. Strong writing calls for verbs: he attended the meeting, NOT he was in attendance.

[Slava]

I beg to differ. "In attendance" often means much more than simply "attending" a meeting.

[Philip Hudson]

Yeah, Perry. I have been in attendance many times when I was not actually attending. Unless you have sat through hours of arcane technical discussions in a smoke filled conference rooms (smoke filled in my day), you cannot really appreciate the truth of having been in attendance.

[bnjtokyo]

G.B.S. Stage direction in "A Man of Destiny":
"Nothing more is said until the lieutenant arrives followed by Giuseppe, who stands modestly in attendance at the table."

In my opinion, a good way for the director to tell the actor how he should behave in the scene.

Or J. Austin (a fine romantic stylist) Northhanger Abbey:
"Henry was not able to obey his father's injunction of
remaining wholly at Northanger in attendance on the ladies"

[Perry Lassiter]

And yet all those who advise us writers and speakers say to write in the active voice, with nouns and verbs. I can buy "in attendance" in Philip's sense, deliberately meaning one is mostly ignoring what's happening. I eventually quit going to conferences where I could not attend. Likewise to be in attendace to the ladies is a bit antiquated, but still makes an acceptable point. My objection is to news articles in which the person or persons mentioned are involved and active, as for example at a school board meeting.

[Philip Hudson]

Actually, Perry, I agree.