Philip  +  327133 Sat, 10 Feb 07 03:12 AM I'm trying to come up with a logical answer but can't find one that satisfies me.  Therefore, I'd like some adivce from my many learned friends here.  Which is better (either by logic and/or by authoritative source)? The Pentagon announced the death or three soldiers. The Pentagon announced the deaths of three soldiers.   Thanks, of course! Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,737 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

	Marius Hancu  +  327142 Sat, 10 Feb 07 03:55 AM Google hits on the New York Times: 35 from nytimes.com for  "the deaths of three soldiers" 0 from nytimes.com for  "the death of three soldiers" The 2nd would work perhaps if the three had died in the same accident, simultaneously. Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673

	Inchoateknowledge  +  327183 Sat, 10 Feb 07 07:56 AM The Pentagon announced the deaths of three soldiers. IMO, whether singular or plural only comes down to the way you you look at them, either as they being individuals or a group. The Pentagon announced the deaths of three individuals.  The Pentagon announced the death of a group of three soldiers. Inchoateknowledge Joined on Wed, May 3 2006 Senior Member 2,549 Beep! Beep! :) Plurals

	Inchoateknowledge  +  327190 Sat, 10 Feb 07 08:14 AM http://www.google.hu/search?hl=hu&q=%22the+death+of+three+soldiers&meta=lr%3Dlang_en The New York Times may follow different guidelines of grammar to that of its British counterparts. Broadly speaking, you cannot rely on hits found by a search program to decide whether a structure is grammatically acceptable. In this respect, Google is more helpful than NYT. Inchoateknowledge Grammar

	Yoong Liat  +  327191 Sat, 10 Feb 07 08:23 AM I think the stanza is depicting the deaths of the soldiers but the 'some' is a general term used for those who try to put some consolation, however glib, ... www.hcu.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/jtap/board/config.pl?noframes;read=4205 - 6k - Cached The above is from BNC. Yoong Liat

	Inchoateknowledge  +  327193 Sat, 10 Feb 07 08:25 AM  Yoong Liat wrote: IMO, three lives are lost. Therefore, 'the deaths of three soldiers'. http://www.google.hu/search?hl=hu&q=%22the+mysery+of+the&meta=lr%3Dlang_en http://www.google.hu/search?hl=hu&q=%22the+myseries+of+the&meta=lr%3Dlang_en Inchoateknowledge