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A reader from Rocky Hill, Connecticut, writes with a question about road signs that read "Blind Driveway." She writes: "Drivers might be blinded from not being able to see a driveway because of trees or other objects, but the driveways are not blind. How can an inanimate object be blind?!"

First, an aside on signs: One thing I've always liked about street signs is their no-nonsense clarity. Instead of deploying fancy euphemisms, they tell it straight, e.g., "Stop," "Yield," "One Way," "No Left Turn," though not every driver pays attention to these, of course. I especially appreciate the urgency and directness of the signs on interstate exit ramps: "Wrong Way. Go Back."

Well, OK, there is the sugar-coated "No Outlet" for "Dead End" and the charming "Soft Shoulders," not to mention those tender explanatory signs like "Opposing Traffic Gets Longer Green." Wait a minute; that's not fair!

Back to "blind driveway." True, a sign telling you that there's a hidden driveway coming up could read, "Driveway Ahead That You Can't See." But cars move fast. "Blind Driveway" says it quickly and clearly.

This, of course, raises the compelling question: Does "blind" refer to the perspective of the passing motorist who can't see the driveway or to that of the motorist pulling out of the driveway who can't see very far down the road?

The former. The term "blind driveway" is based on an old meaning of "blind" -- "hidden, covered from sight," as in a "blind seam" on a piece of clothing, or a "blind experiment" in which certain information is withheld from the participants.

But is "blind driveway" illogical or ungrammatical?

Neither. It's one of several common phrases with adjectives that don't literally "describe" inanimate nouns. Just as the driveway itself isn't actually visually impaired, a "sick room" isn't sick, "elderly housing" isn't elderly and "handicapped parking" isn't handicapped. Neither do "smelling salts" smell anything nor do "hearing rooms" hear anything.

In these cases, the adjective doesn't describe the inanimate noun but instead refers to the group, function or activity for which the noun is used. So "sick rooms," "elderly housing" and "handicapped parking" are, respectively, for people who are ill, elderly or have disabilities, while "smelling salts" are for smelling and "hearing rooms" are for hearings.

A blind driveway isn't blind, but the motorists who approach it are. Slow down and beware!

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Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. His book, "Mark My Words," is available for $9.99 on Amazon.com. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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