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Seagull Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Seas and oceans

Regarding the two sentences below:

1. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of all the seas in the world.

2. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of all the oceans in the world.

Q1 Are both sentences correct?

Q2 In Sentence 2, can the plural noun "oceans" cover such waters as the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea?
  

Top answer

If you look up oceans and seas, you’ll form your own opinion; but for now, there are five oceans (which are really one big expanse of salt water covering 70% of the world’s surface) and several seas (some of which are part of a named ocean and others are fully enclosed). By that reckoning, only sentence 2 can be correct. Q2 would be a no.

— Wilpeter

  • If you look up oceans and seas, you’ll form your own opinion; but for now, there are five oceans (which are really one big expanse of salt water covering 70% of the world’s surface) and several seas (some of which are part of a named ocean and others are fully enclosed).
  • By that reckoning, only sentence 2 can be correct.
  • Q2 would be a no.
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4 Answers
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If you look up oceans and seas, you’ll form your own opinion; but for now, there are five oceans (which are really one big expanse of salt water covering 70% of the world’s surface) and several seas (some of which are part of a named ocean and others are fully enclosed).
By that reckoning, only sentence 2 can be correct. Q2 would be a no.
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I understand.
Thank you so much indeed, Wilpeter.
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seagullcan the plural noun "oceans" cover such waters as the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea?
No. Oceans are much larger.

CJ
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I understand.
Thank you very much indeed, CalifJim.
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