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AskAndAnswer Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
land or lands
Are both of these OK to use?
It’s time for us to leave these fields, and journey far upon a winding river, through the lands it wields.
It’s time for us to leave these fields, and journey far upon a winding river, through the land it wields.
It’s time for us to leave these fields, and journey far upon a winding river, through the lands it wields.
It’s time for us to leave these fields, and journey far upon a winding river, through the land it wields.
Top answer
"land" and "lands" both seem OK, but do you mean to imply that the river "wields" the land(s)? )
- "land" and "lands" both seem OK, but do you mean to imply that the river "wields" the land(s)?
- )
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5 Answers
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"land" and "lands" both seem OK, but do you mean to imply that the river "wields" the land(s)? I'm not sure if that verb totally makes sense there (though I suppose in poetic writing you have quite a large leeway...)
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It’s time for us to leave these fields, and journey far upon a winding river, through the lands it winds. (Meander would be better..)
Lands - the plural implies different countries or provinces, that is, crossing boundaries of some sort.
Land - the singular - does not have this nuanced meaning.
Lands - the plural implies different countries or provinces, that is, crossing boundaries of some sort.
Land - the singular - does not have this nuanced meaning.
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Unfortunately winds(winding the clock) will not rhyme with fields, so I can't use it.
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AskAndAnswerUnfortunately winds(winding the clock) will not rhyme with fields, so I can't use it.I think a hint of a rhyme in fields–winds is better than a word that does not make sense; however, I felt originally that the "winding ... winds" repetition was weak, even if intentional. Looking again, I'm not sure now...
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