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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Usage of the word 'respective' in the mentioned contexts

is the usage of respective appropriate in the following sentences

I can answer the respective person for not publishing the article

give me the sheet and I will answer the respective questions for you
  

Top answer

Probably not-- they both sound odd. But more context is needed, since 'respective' refers to some base parameter mentioned.

  • Probably not-- they both sound odd.
  • But more context is needed, since 'respective' refers to some base parameter mentioned.
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7 Answers
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Probably not-- they both sound odd. But more context is needed, since 'respective' refers to some base parameter mentioned.
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Thanks for the reply!

how about this context?

A: Can you please fill out this form for me?

B: No, I don't have time now.

A: It is the company's policy and you have to do it. If not, one of the higher managers would be talking to you

B: Not now! No problem! I will talk to the respective person for not doing this (or) I will talk to the respective person
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No, not really; it just does not fit into context or register. I think that you might mean 'appropriate'.

'Respective' is a very formal word which requires at least two clear referents. Here are some examples from a respectable corpus:

- two ministers who've been dealing with this issue in their respective churches.
- They both joined us by pho
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Hello Mister Micawber,

Thank you very much for getting back to me! Those examples were very useful! I'm convinced but I still have a quick question! I hope you remember the dialogue I had used.

In the context, "respective person" refers to the manager/working department that deals with the incomplete form problems

do you still think the word is inappropriate? woul
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Sorry, no, it still sounds stilted to me-- the text you provided just says 'one of the managers'; it doesn't indicate that any specific departments are involved. That is what is needed: some sort of reference to at least two parameters, I think.

A: Can you please fill out this form for me?
B: No, I don't have time now.
A: It is company policy and you have to do it. If not,
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Hello Mister Micawber,

Thank you very much! This helps a lot! The dialog you have posted was the one I was trying to frame
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I have copied the respective managers

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