Which of the two is correct: “Every cell phone does that, doesn’t it?” or “Every cell phone does that, don’t they?” Answer Every cell phone does that, doesn’t it? or Every cell phone does that, don’t they? “Every” is a distributive determiner as reflected in the fact that it selects a singular ‘head’, hence “Every … Read more
The usage of singular and plural has always been confusing for me. I often see sentences like these People are using cell phones. People are using a cell phone. Does the first sentence mean everyone has a phone and they are all using their own? Does the second sentence mean they are sharing one cell … Read more
In the following statements all the individuals of a group are addressed for gratitude: Gratitude is owed to each member of the group. Gratitude is owed to every member of the group. Gratitude is owed to each and every member of the group. Hence to ask which are the distinctive qualities of each, every and … Read more
Should I say Some people use the word “flat” to describe their phone when its battery is dead. or Some people use the word “flat” to describe their phones when their batteries are dead. (I wanted to use “their” here to refer to the phone’s instead of the people’s) or Some people use the word … Read more
