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HUBLOT Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Temperatures hovered at...

http://centralwisconsinhub.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20120703/WDH0101/207030401/City-Council-committee-vows-to-rehab-Wausau-pools?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
Some city leaders vowed to fix the city's deteriorating pools after watching dozens of children splash around in the pools Monday while temperatures hovered at about 90 degrees.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/kingston/topstories/x425599295/EDITOR-S-NOTES-The-right-choice#axzz1zl0LW1OX
The temperature still hovered at about 90 degrees.

I'm wondering if both temperatures and The temperature are correct.
  

Top answer

Both are OK, if you don't look at the journalese. The plural is used because the weather report covers more than one location, and the writer has borrowed the weatherman's point of view. If all locations are at about the same temperature, or you are only talking about the one location, the singular works.

  • Both are OK, if you don't look at the journalese.
  • The plural is used because the weather report covers more than one location, and the writer has borrowed the weatherman's point of view.
  • If all locations are at about the same temperature, or you are only talking about the one location, the singular works.
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1 Answers
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Both are OK, if you don't look at the journalese. The plural is used because the weather report covers more than one location, and the writer has borrowed the weatherman's point of view. If all locations are at about the same temperature, or you are only talking about the one location, the singular works.

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