One or two?

Question

Hi. Please help. I think for the decision of whether to make the noun following the following kind of multiple adjectives lies on the fact that whether the adjectives indicate one, two or possibly more of such. Now please tell me if the noun should be in plural or in singular. I think both of the following example sentences denote two of such, and it would seem to me, the plural form is correct (not sure, though). Thank you in advance.

It might affect one or two generation (or one or two generations?).

It is on the first and second page (or first and second pages?).

MalRey · Accepted Answer

I would go with the plural in both cases.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi. Thank you. I am sorry, the sentence "It might affect one or two generation" should be "It might affect the first or second generation." I checked the phrase "the first and second generation" in the Google Books Search and came up with 671,000 hits, and also checked the phrase "the first and second generations" and came up with 347,000 hits. What do you think is the reason for the difference? Aren't there two generations, first and second? Thank you in advance, again.

Mister Micawber · Answer

I checked the phrase "the first and second generation" in the Google Books Search and came up with 671,000 hits, and also checked the phrase "the first and second generations" and came up with 347,000 hits. What do you think is the reason for the difference? -- This is not a significant statistical difference. It shows that usage is roughly split between the two.

Aren't there two generations, first and second?-- Yes, of course, but the question is whether the writer is thinking of 'first' as an adjective or a pronoun. I suggest using the number that makes more sense to you.

One or two?

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