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I am unsure of whether to use singular or plural describing a list where the objects in the list are choices

English Language & Usage Asked by Anarchy on April 12, 2021

Which is correct:
Three different strategies whereby X and Y are produced in a ratio of 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1.
or
Three different strategies whereby X and Y are produced in ratios of 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1.

2 Answers

To me they mean different things:

Three different strategies whereby X and Y are produced in a ratio of 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1. > (i) X and Y are separate products made of A and B. the ratio refers to the A:B relationship.

Three different strategies whereby X and Y are produced in ratios of 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1. > X and Y are the components of a single product. “Ratios” refers to the X:Y relationship.

Then there is   Three different strategies whereby X and Y are produced in a ratio of either 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1. > (i) X and Y are separate products that occur or are produce as a result of the variables of a system.

Answered by Greybeard on April 12, 2021

First, if those are sentences, neither of them is correct. They are both sentence fragments.

Look at the essential component of the sentence:

 ? Three different strategies whereby X and Y are produced.

That's syntactically the same as the following:

? Three different people who walk down the street.

Both of those are noun phrases, but there is no main verb. What do the strategies do? What do the people do?


That aside, the question doesn't make it clear if each strategy produces X and Y in a different ratio, or if they simply produce X and Y in a ratio that matches one or more of the three ratios.

Possible wordings include the following:

  • Each of the three strategies produces X and Y in a unique ratio of 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1.
  • Each of the three strategies produces X and Y in a ratio of 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1.
  • The three strategies respectively produce X and Y in ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1.
  • The three strategies produce X and Y in a ratio of 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1.

Note the switch from the indefinite article to the definite article in the one case, because all three are described at once, and each must use a unique ratio.

Answered by Jason Bassford on April 12, 2021

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