singular/plural

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Grammar Geek

#436641 Tue, 30 Oct 07 02:39 AM

In isolation? As a stand-alone sentence, it sounds like it's missing something - different from what? or from whom?

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,622)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Whom

Taka

#436792 Tue, 30 Oct 07 01:46 PM

Grammar Geek wrote:
In isolation?

Not in isolation. In this text:

You don't have to worry about your writing style when you write in your diary, because you write it to yourself; nobody else would read it. However, when you write a letter to someone, you have to be careful about your style; you have to change your style depending on the kind of person you write to. Remember, the reader is different.

Taka

Joined on Tue, Sep 7 2004

Japan

Senior Member (2,266)

Grammar, Writing styles

Grammar Geek

#436801 Tue, 30 Oct 07 02:24 PM

Is this another translation? Are you limited solely to having "the reader" or "the readers"? Because I wouldn't write it that way all.

I would say something like "It's important to remember the needs and expectations of your reader." (And in that case, you can use either singular or plural, depending on whether you thinking about the entire opus of your writing or a particular piece at any given time.)

Given more time to think about it, I might change that, but "Remember, the reader is different" still leave me saying "from what?" Are the readers different from each other? Are they different from me, since I'm the only one who reads my diary? (I hope!) And what is it about their being different that matters? Oh yes - it's their needs and expectations. So why not just say that?

If you really must stick to that format, what about somethign like "Remember, your readers will be different from you" assuming that there are many types of things you'll be writing over the course of time.

So, yes, I have changed my mind about singular or plural - I would now advocate for plural, because this person will write many things over the course of time.

Grammar Geek

Plurals, Translation

Taka

#436819 Tue, 30 Oct 07 03:41 PM

Grammar Geek wrote:
If you really must stick to that format, what about somethign like "Remember, your readers will be different from you" assuming that there are many types of things you'll be writing over the course of time.

So, yes, I have changed my mind about singular or plural - I would now advocate for plural, because this person will write many things over the course of time.

So the sentence in red fits fine in here

You don't have to worry about your writing style when you write in your diary, because you write it to yourself; nobody else would read it. However, when you write a letter to someone, you have to be careful about your style; you have to change your style depending on the kind of person you write to. Remember, your readers will be different from you.

although we have these words from MH and Bokeh?

Marius Hancu wrote:
Not in this case, where you individualize/personalize the writing depending on the kind of person you write to, IMO.

Bokeh wrote:
You are tied to the singular because you have used someone. Since someone and the reader are one and the same and someone can only be singular the verb (and the reader) should be singular also.

Taka

Grammar, Verbs, Plurals, Writing styles

Grammar Geek

#436850 Tue, 30 Oct 07 04:38 PM

Well, like I said, if you consider that you are giving advice that will be followed for all writing to come, then more than one reader will see it. I'm a convert from the singular.

I don't see "someone" in the new version, but if the singular "person" and plural "readers" is bothersome, change "person" to "people" and you're fine.

I don't think there's a wrong answer here. It's just up to the writer's style and what you have in mind as you write it.

Grammar Geek

Plurals

Taka

#436867 Tue, 30 Oct 07 05:30 PM

Grammar Geek wrote:
Well, like I said, if you consider that you are giving advice that will be followed for all writing to come, then more than one reader will see it. I'm a convert from the singular.
I don't think there's a wrong answer here. It's just up to the writer's style and what you have in mind as you write it.

OK. Thanks, GG.

Can I ask a question about this part, by the way? I'm kind of puzzled.

Grammar Geek wrote:
I don't see "someone" in the new version

When you say you don't see 'someone' in the paragraph, do you mean you don't talke it literally as singular? Or do you mean something else?

I'm kind of puzzled because the word is actually there, even in the new version (if you refer to the last revised one that I posted as the new version) and I see it...