Some or all?

Question

Hi. Do they indicate "all" or "some" of the people or things they mention?

I think the following 3 sentences indicate some of the people and things they mention.

1. He met people of different nationalities. -- I think it indicates he met only some of the people who were of different nationalities.
2. Please connect the dots following the trail of letters in the alphabet. -- I think it also indicates only some of the letters in the alphabet, not all.
3. These are the names of students in class. -- This is a difficult one to decide, but I lean toward the direction of "some" rather than "all."

But I think the example sentence below indicates all of the students, not some of them. Thank you for your help in advance.

This is a list of names of the students in class.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousDo they indicate "all" or "some" of the people or things they mention?

1. He met people of different nationalities. -- This does not distinguish between some and all
2. Please connect the dots following the trail of letters in the alphabet. -- This does not distinguish between some and all
3. These are the names of students in class. -- This does not distinguish between some and all

AnonymousBut I think the example sentence below indicates all of the students, not some of them. This is a list of names of the students in class.

Yes, this is presumably all of them, without further context.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi. Thank you. If someone wrote on the three sentences that you said do not "distinguish between some and all," would it be better to rewrite them to be clear? Also, could we use any of them to indicate some of them, risking ambiguity? Also, could we use any of them to indicate all of them, also risking ambiguity. Thank you again for your anticipated help.

You wrote:

1. He met people of different nationalities. -- This does not distinguish between some and all 2. Please connect the dots following the trail of letters in the alphabet. -- This does not distinguish between some and all 3. These are the names of students in class. -- This does not distinguish between some and all

Mister Micawber · Answer

Anonymouswould it be better to rewrite them to be clear?

Yes, of course, if context does not already do so.

Anonymous Also, could we use any of them to indicate some of them, risking ambiguity? Also, could we use any of them to indicate all of them, also risking ambiguity

If you wish.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, thank you very much. Let's assume that there are all twenty-six alphabet letters with a dot above each letter on the paper. Which wording do you prefer as the instructions for the task?

1. Please connect the dots following the trail of letters in the alphabet.
2. Please connect the dots following the trail of the letters in the alphabet.

Also, assuming there are all the names of the students in class on a piece of paper and a person is talking to another person showing the paper that another person. Which do you prefer? Thank you again for your help in advance.

1. These are the names of students in class.
2. These are the names of the students in class.

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousWhich wording do you prefer as the instructions for the task?1. Please connect the dots following the trail of letters in the alphabet.2. Please connect the dots following the trail of the letters in the alphabet.

I prefer this: Please connect the dots following the trail of letters. There is no need for 'alphabet'.

AnonymousAlso, assuming there are all the names of the students in class on a piece of paper and a person is talking to another person showing the paper that another person. Which do you prefer? Thank you again for your help in advance.1. These are the names of students in class.2. These are the names of the students in class.

With that assumption, I prefer #1 only because it is shorter.

Some or all?

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