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Sacha Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

question re plurals

Which is correct, and/or which sounds better?

The writing, photography and art embraces the themes of...

or

The writing, photography and art embrace the themes of...

I know that the latter should be used, but can I get away with considering 'writing, photography and art' a collective GROUP, thus the singular 'embraces'?

This is driving me insane.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
  

Top answer

" I would see them as different singular entities, discrete element of a cohesive list. Of course, what those three things can possibly have in common and collectively embrace, I could not say. They often seem at odds, one with the other.

— Boilerkarl

  • " I would see them as different singular entities, discrete element of a cohesive list.
  • Of course, what those three things can possibly have in common and collectively embrace, I could not say.
  • They often seem at odds, one with the other.
  • I would dispense with "The" at the beginning of this sentence since you are talking about these three art forms generally and not something specific.
  • Plus, there are some who would quibble with the idea that photography is not art.
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2 Answers
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I would say, "Writing, photography and art embrace the themes of..." I would see them as different singular entities, discrete element of a cohesive list. Of course, what those three things can possibly have in common and collectively embrace, I could not say. They often seem at odds, one with the other. I would dispense with "The" at the beginning of this sentence since you are talking about the
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