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   Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 24-Aug-2024 10:25:37 JST Paul Cantrell

   Does this sentence sound wrong to your ears (in formal written English)?

   “Some of the water is much clearer than others.”

   The plural “others” for the collective noun “water” sounds wrong to my ears — but so would “some of the waters,” which changes the meaning. What’s the way out here?

   • Embed this notice
     Jenniferplusplus (jenniferplusplus@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 24-Aug-2024 10:28:58 JST Jenniferplusplus

     in reply to

     @inthehands yeah, it sounds weird. I think there's a missing noun. Some parts of the water... Or some glasses of water....

   • Embed this notice
     Kim Wallmark (whatif@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 24-Aug-2024 10:29:05 JST Kim Wallmark

     in reply to

     @inthehands That sentence definitely sounds off to me. How about

     "Some areas of the water are much clearer than others."

     ?

   • Embed this notice
     Jake Hildreth (acorn) :blacker_heart_outline: (horse@infosec.exchange)'s status on Saturday, 24-Aug-2024 10:31:45 JST Jake Hildreth (acorn) :blacker_heart_outline:

     in reply to

     • Kim Wallmark

     @whatif @inthehands yes!