To refer to singular/plural items without knowing the actual quantity

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Sometimes we need to refer to something without knowing will it be singular or plural. How to write such things in formal writing?

Version 1

No valid input files found.

  1. Make sure the input field contains at least one “.adoc” file.
  2. Make sure this file (these files) does exist.

Version 2

No valid input files found.

  1. Make sure the input field contains at least one “.adoc” file.
  2. Make sure this file(s) does exist.

Or something different?

Answer

For the second variation (and there’s nothing wrong with at least one), use the indefinite article a; that’s what it’s meant for:

  1. Make sure a file exists.

The fact that one file exists doesn’t preclude the possibility that multiple files exist. But having at least one exist (which a covers) is a necessarily condition, and it’s all that’s required to avoid the error message in the question.

Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : john c. j. , Answer Author : Jason Bassford

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