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New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

average distances

0This map provides average distance01b01font00s02font02b00 between major US cities, for example, L.A. to Seattle is X miles, L.A. to N.Y.C. is Y miles and N.Y.C to Chicago is Z miles.02br
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00Is 'average distances' used correctly in the sentence above or it should be 'average distance'? I believe it is correct because there are multiple distances but I would like a second opinion.0-
  

Top answer

0 In this context, "distance" is used as a collective noun between all cities. So "01b 00distances02b 00" to me is not necessary, perhaps, even incorrect. 0-

— Goodman

  • 0 In this context, "distance" is used as a collective noun between all cities.
  • So "01b 00distances02b 00" to me is not necessary, perhaps, even incorrect.
  • 0-
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8 Answers
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0 In this context, "distance" is used as a collective noun between all cities. So "01b00distances02b00" to me is not necessary, perhaps, even incorrect. 0-
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0This map provides average distance01b01font00s02font02b00 between major US cities, for example, 01font00the average distance02font00 from L.A. to Seattle is X miles, 01font00the average distance02font00 L.A. to N.Y.C. is Y miles and 01font
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0Hi guys,02br
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00I don't understand what 'average' means here.02br
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00What does it mean to say that 'the 01b00average distance02b00 from L.A. to Seattle is X miles'? Does it mean that the distance changes - on Monday it's 500 miles, and on Tuesday it's 600 miles? 02br
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00Or that it's 1,000 miles if you
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0Sorry for not providing a proper context. Basically, an average distance means the average of distances of all possible routes from A to B. For example, to get to B from A, there are three different routes to choose from, so the average distance is the average distance of these 3 routes. 02br
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00I think my original example does not make sense in daily life unless it is u
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1font00Hi,02font02br
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00So, does it make any sense to use 'average distance01font00s02font00' in the GPS context ? 02br
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01font00There would only be one average distance between two places, but a list of such distances could certainly be term
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0What a relief! 05000 Thank you!010id1
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0Let's try something that makes more sense.02br
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00The grocery store sells five-pound bags of potatoes. Some may weigh 4.85 pounds, some may weight 5.11 pounds, but the average weight (singular) for a bag of potatoes is five pounds. But, if you have a table listing the average weight for the potatores, the carrots, the onions, etc., then the table shows the average weigh
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0I agree with you that my example is a confusing one. Your example definitely makes more sense. Thanks, GG.0-
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