Plural or singular?

2. Most people there lived simple lives.

Since common sense tells us that each person has one life, match plural ('people') with plural ('lives').

Thank you, Mr. Micawber.

Is this just a style matter, or the sentence #1 is simply incorrect?

handtalk.

I cannot say that it is incorrect, but it is not very good.

Thanks for the reply, Mr. Micawber.

hmmm... difficult...

1. Most people there had a dog.

2. Most people there had dogs.

For example, the above two sentences, I think, mean different things. This is not just a style issue, is it?

handtalk.

Yes, it is, since there is no way of knowing absolutely whether each person had one dog or several, no matter which sentence you use. This is a different case, since the number of dogs per person is not so absolute as the number of lives per person, but anyway, it will have to be fitted into context that makes the dog/owner ratio clear.

Hi, Mr. Micawber.

So, as always, it is the context, not the grammar.

Thanks.

Yes, I think it often takes some negotiating.

1. Most people there had a dog.-- This is pretty clear: probably one dog per person...per couple?

2. Most people there had dogs.-- This is not so clear. What does common sense tell us? Well, some readers would think a dog apiece and some would think otherwise.