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Limeal Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

can 'on' be omitted?

Dear teachers,

1. "I will post it on both the wall and the desk." = 2. "I will post it both on the wall and on the desk."

Can the latter 'on' be omitted? => 3. "I will post it both on the wall and the desk."

Which sentence do you prefer?
  

Top answer

In precise writing, you should have parallel structure after the both, so I would not write #3 in a document that was being saved. However, I certainly would write in in an e-mail, and it's completely fine spoken. Your reader and listener will understand that the on applies to both the walll and the desk.

— BarbaraPA

  • In precise writing, you should have parallel structure after the both, so I would not write #3 in a document that was being saved.
  • However, I certainly would write in in an e-mail, and it's completely fine spoken.
  • Your reader and listener will understand that the on applies to both the walll and the desk.
  • "Post it on" rolls off the tongue very easily - so I'd probably just use #1 anyway.
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3 Answers
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In precise writing, you should have parallel structure after the both, so I would not write #3 in a document that was being saved. However, I certainly would write in in an e-mail, and it's completely fine spoken. Your reader and listener will understand that the on applies to both the walll and the desk. "Post it on" rolls off the tongue very easily - so I'd probably just us
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Grammar GeekIn precise writing, you should have parallel structure after the both, so I would not write #3 in a document that was being saved. However, I certainly would write in in an e-mail, and it's completely fine spoken. Your reader and listener will understand that the on applies to both the walll and the desk. "Post it on" rolls off the tongue
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Yes, the second "on" can be omitted in #2. I could say any of these three sentences, although as I say them over and over again, I seem to prefer #1
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