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Is this sentence correct, specifically is t missing any articles?You need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Is this sentence correct, Yes
specifically is it missing any articles? No

You need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits.
The second comma is optional.

Your sentence indicates that you do not think diet and exercise habits are lifestyle habits. I do.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

CliveIs this sentence correct, Yesspecifically is it missing any articles? NoYou need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits.The second comma is optional.

Thank you very much!

CliveYour sentence indicates that you do not think diet and exercise habits are lifestyle habits. I do.

I took the sentence from an article. What makes you say that the sentence indicates that diet and exercise habits are not lifestyle habits?

I don't think that the author meant they are not lifestyle habits. It is just that not all people possess such lifestyle habits of eating smartly (meaning not maintaining a healthy diet) or exercising regularly, and not diet or exercise in general! I think he meant that they should be part of one's lifestyle. Specifically, I think that he mentioned "lifestyle habits" at the end to indicate that people should follow/start/implement such things as part of their lifestyle and not just for a short period of time. Does that make sense to you?

This maybe the reason of my confusion and why I asked if there was anything missing in the sentence. What do you think?

Clive · Answer

If you sayYou need to develop A, B and C. it means that A, B and C are 3 different things.

Say
eg You need to develop smarter diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits.
eg You need to develop smarter lifestyle habits, including exercise and diet.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

CliveIf you sayYou need to develop A, B and C. it means that A, B and C are 3 different things.

Oh I see, thanks teacher, it is clear now. So because 'lifestyle habits' is considered the letter C in your explanation, it gives the idea as if the previous ones, diet and exercise, are not lifestyle habits since he says you need to 'develop' (develop implies that something was not there or available). Have I understood the reason of this confusion correctly?

CliveSayeg You need to develop smarter diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits.eg You need to develop smarter lifestyle habits, including exercise and diet

Yes, these are much better and clear that are not confusing.

They clearly indicate that exercise and diet are lifestyle habits, but it is important for people that aren't to start implemeting them in their lives, meaning eating better and stating to exercise. Am I right?

Clive · Answer

You are starting to get the idea, but I don't think you clearly understand.

In broad terms, when you talk about A, B and C, they are separate things.The verb 'develop' has nothing to do with this fact.

________________________________________________________________________________________

My examples mean that you should develop good lifestyle habits, including eating better and starting to exercise. Please look up the meaning of 'including' in your dictionary.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

CliveYou are starting to get the idea, but I don't think you clearly understand.

Thank you.

CliveIn broad terms, when you talk about A, B and C, they are separate things.The verb 'develop' has nothing to do with this fact.

Yes, I understand now that they are separate things and the verb 'develop' has nothing to do with this.
But I am still confused about the fact that you said that the original sentence or the one that you slightly edited is correct:
You need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits.

I don't see the flow between the different things and to develop. I don't see how this sentence is correct. First, if the sentence is broken down, the first part will be "you need to develop a smarter diet" - The article is required. Second, the word develop does not go with the bare "exercise".

I think the sentence should be something like this: you need to develop a smarter diet, an exercise regime, and other lifestyle habits.

Would you tell me how is it possible that the original sentence is correct, specially that the word develop does not work will all of the three different things?

CliveMy examples mean that you should develop good lifestyle habits, including eating better and starting to exercise. Please look up the meaning of 'including' in your dictionary

Yes, I can see how your sentence with 'including' works!!

Clive · Answer

You need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits.
This version means -
You need to develop smarter diet habits.
You need to develop smarter exercise habits.
You need to develop smarter lifestyle habits.

As you can see, 'diet' and 'exercise' become adjectival.

This version is what you want.

You need to develop a smarter diet, an exercise regime, and other lifestyle habits

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

CliveYou need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits.This version means -You need to develop smarter diet habits.You need to develop smarter exercise habits.You need to develop smarter lifestyle habits.

I see. So to develop smarter and habits act for all three objects in the sentence. Would that be right?

Clive This version is what you want.You need to develop a smarter diet, an exercise regime, and other lifestyle habits

Which version? The one below your sentence. If so, do you mean it is a better version or constructed sentence, which would be the reason as to why you said that it is the version I want?

Clive · Answer

I see that you have started to discuss this topic in another thread, so I suggest you post any further comments and queries there.

Clive

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