at a time [to/and] add

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Only one of use could open the document at a time [to/and] add a new message to the itemized listAre both choices correct?Thanks!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Only one of use could open the document at a time [to/and] add a new message to the itemized list

Are both choices correct?

Only one of us at a time could open the document [to/and] add a new message to the itemized list

Both are OK, but 'to' is more precise. It conveys a sense of purpose. Consider

I went to the store and I bought a sweater. The second event is not necessarily the reason I went to the store.

I went to the store to buy a sweater. Only here is it clear that 'buying a sweater' is the reason I went to the store.

I assume this sense of purpose is how you want to relate the two actions in your sentence.

Best wishes, Clive

Bokeh · Answer

CliveHi,

Only one of use could open the document at a time [to/and] add a new message to the itemized list

Are both choices correct?

Only one of us at a time could open the document [to/and] add a new message to the itemized list

Both are OK, but 'to' is more precise. It conveys a sense of purpose. Consider

I went to the store and I bought a sweater. The second event is not necessarily the reason I went to the store.

I went to the store to buy a sweater. Only here is it clear that 'buying a sweater' is the reason I went to the store.

I assume this sense of purpose is how you want to relate the two actions in your sentence.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive,

I don't know that your example fits here.

Only one of us could open the document at a time to add a new message to the itemized list -> Only one copy of the document may be opened at once.
Only one of us could open the document at a time and add a new message to the itemized list -> Multiple copies of the document may be opened at the same time but only one will be allowed write permission.

I think it is open to multiple enterpretation. What do you think?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I don't know that your example fits here.

Only one of us could open the document at a time to add a new message to the itemized list -> Only one copy of the document may be opened at once. Your wording in red is clear. If you want to try and stick with the original woring, I'd just say 'Only one of us could open the document at a time'.

Only one of us could open the document at a time and add a new message to the itemized list -> Multiple copies of the document may be opened at the same time but only one only one what? person? open operation? will be allowed write permission. Even 'write permission' is not quite the same as in the original, which spoke only of 'adding a new message' but did not address changing or deleteing a message. Does 'write permission' also mean that I can't change or delete a message?

I think it is open to multiple enterpretation. What do you think?I used to work in this business, so I think that, if you want to avoid confusion, you need to think very carefully and state your meaning as clearly, simply, and comprehensively as possible. People are liable to try all sorts of odd things, and then say 'Oh, you didn't tell me specifically that I couldn't do that.'

Best wishes, Clive

at a time [to/and] add

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