Seriously, “eighty seven years ago” would have been more appropriate for the average person and would not have befuddled countless school children since then trying to make sense of it. Most writing experts advise using the simplest words to get an idea across but the Gettysburg Address is replete with such non-layman language. With that said, it is arguably the best 272 words ever strung together before or since in the English language.
Seriously, “eighty seven years ago” would have been more appropriate for the average person and would not have befuddled countless school children since then trying to make sense of it. Most writing experts advise using the simplest words to get an idea across but the Gettysburg Address is replete with such non-layman language. With that said, it is arguably the best 272 words ever strung together before or since in the English language.