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Snappy Posted 15 years ago
There are several fluorescent tubes. They are different from one another.
It is certain that the quantity of mercury in each fluorescent tube differs.
If we want to check the quantity of mercury contained in each of these fluorescent tubes, is it possible to say:
"We must check the quantity of mercury contained in these fluorescent tubes."?
or
"We must check the quantities of mercury contained in these fluorescent tubes."?
Grammar
The quantity of mercury/the quantities of mercury
There are several fluorescent tubes. They are different from one another.
It is certain that the quantity of mercury in each fluorescent tube differs.
If we want to check the quantity of mercury contained in each of these fluorescent tubes, is it possible to say:
"We must check the quantity of mercury contained in these fluorescent tubes."?
or
"We must check the quantities of mercury contained in these fluorescent tubes."?
Top answer
Hi Snappy, Of the two sentences you propose, the first is the clearest - given the parameters you have provided. Each tube has a different, but set quantity of mercury contained within, regardless of its size. You are checking for that quantity.
- Hi Snappy, Of the two sentences you propose, the first is the clearest - given the parameters you have provided.
- Each tube has a different, but set quantity of mercury contained within, regardless of its size.
- You are checking for that quantity.
- There is another sentence, however, which would remove all ambiguity: We must check the quantity of mercury contained in each fluorescent tube.
- Hope this helps.
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2 Answers
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Hi Snappy,
Of the two sentences you propose, the first is the clearest - given the parameters you have provided.
Each tube has a different, but set quantity of mercury contained within, regardless of its size. You are checking for that quantity.
There is another sentence, however, which would remove all ambiguity:
We must check the quantity of mercury contained
Of the two sentences you propose, the first is the clearest - given the parameters you have provided.
Each tube has a different, but set quantity of mercury contained within, regardless of its size. You are checking for that quantity.
There is another sentence, however, which would remove all ambiguity:
We must check the quantity of mercury contained
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JohnParisHi Snappy, Of the two sentences you propose, the first is the clearest - given the parameters you have provided.Each tube has a different, but set quantity of mercury contained within, regardless of its size. You are checking for that quantity. There is another sentence, however, which would remove all ambiguity:We must check the quantity of mercury contained in
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