Numbers

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Anonymous  #198248  Sat, 18 Feb 06 08:44 AM

"I checked the mail box four times this day: twice in the morning, once at noon and in the afternoon respectively."

i just wonder  whether the issue on the number is clearly expressed in this sentence. if not, how to correct it.

thank you.

  
nona the brit  #198288  Sat, 18 Feb 06 11:59 AM

I'm not sure what you are asking but a better version would be 'I checked the mail box four times this day: twice in the morning, once at noon and once in the afternoon.'

'Respectively' is only used when you need to clarify the order in which something happens, and mornings, noon, and afternoons can only happen in a certain order, so it is redundant here.

i.e.

John and Jim enjoyed cakes and tea means they both had cakes AND tea.

John and Jim enjoyed cakes and tea respectively means John enjoyed the cakes and Jim enjoyed the tea.

  
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