weemba@brahms.BERKELEY.EDU (Matthew P. Wiener) (03/07/86)
I'm sorry, but I could not--repeat, could not--help myself. >Most of the examples given to try to show that it is okay to have a >plural pronoun with singular antecedent do just the opposite. The >examples all have plural antecedents. Notice the difference >between "Each person had his own car" and "Everyone had their >own car," both of which is correct. That, however, is simply >because "each" is singular, whereas "everyone" is plural. Notice the difference between 'Notice the difference between "Each person had his own car" and "Everyone had their own car," both of which is correct' and 'Notice the difference between "Each person had his own car" and "Everyone had their own car," both of which are correct', one of which is correct. That, however, is simply because "both" is plural. >So don't be so sure that a mixup of number is acceptable. Point taken. O-) Megaton Man, on patrol! Wooo! ucbvax!brahms!weemba Matthew P Wiener/UCB Math Dept/Berkeley CA 94720
mrgofor@mmm.UUCP (MKR) (03/14/86)
>>because "each" is singular, whereas "everyone" is plural.
Any consensus on this? I was under the impression that "everyone"
is considered singular. (At least on the western side of the Atlantic -
the British have some slightly different views on the plurality of
groups, i.e. "The band are playing well tonight.")
Try it:
"Everyone is wrong about all of this!"
"Everyone are wrong about all of this!"
I are too confused.
--
--MKR
Sometimes even the President of the United States must have to
stand naked. - Dylanhav@dual.UUCP (Repo Wench) (03/25/86)
In article <606@mmm.UUCP>, mrgofor@mmm.UUCP writes: > Any consensus on this? I was under the impression that "everyone" > is considered singular. (At least on the western side of the Atlantic - > the British have some slightly different views on the plurality of > groups, i.e. "The band are playing well tonight.") Aaaaaaargh!!! I can't stand it any more! From my American Heritage Dictionary: e.g. *Lat.* exempli gratia (for example). i.e. *Lat.* id est (that is). I see these two confused all the time, and it DRIVES ME NUTS! A single example should use the former; a re-statement of an earlier statement should use the latter. For all the times I've seen someone go on in this newsgroup about "spelling and grammar on the net" (I wish I had a dollar for every time the discussion has started up again), I still can't believe how often these two abbreviations get switched around. Helen Anne {ihnp4,cbosgd,hplabs,decwrl,ucbvax,sun}!dual!hav /* This is a disclaimer. I deny it all. Period. */ Hey, there's a great future as a fry cook! I could be manager in two years.