Re: Singular or Plural?

Subject: Re: Singular or Plural?
From: Janice Gelb <janice -dot- gelb -at- sun -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 07:18:58 +1100

Kevin McLauchlan wrote:

On Behalf Of Janice Gelb wrote

"The group provides high-level analyses and technical assistance..."
"The group provides high-level analysis and technical assistance..."

Even if it is a correct plural formation,
"analyses" is going to look like a typo
to most people. And I don't think this
construction works anyway: "assistance"
can be used without an accompanying
explanation but "analysis" begs the
question: "analysis" of *what*?

I'd rewrite it to answer that question:

"The group provides high-level analysis of
internal specifications and technical assistance..."

Well then, if you want to get _picky_... :-)

I would insert a comma after "specifications", so that the sentence says that the group provides two things - analysis(es) and assistance.

Otherwise, your version says to me that the group analyzes internal specifications, and analyzes technical assistance. Hmm?

<I'll take my comma dispenser and go hide somewhere now.>


I was assuming that the ellipses after "technical
assistance" meant there was more text after that
to qualify what the assistance was. Of course,
I added the "of internal specifications" part,
which was not part of the original text.

-- Janice
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References:
RE: Singular or Plural?: From: Kevin McLauchlan

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