A grammar advice columnist received a question about this from somebody writing mathematical word problems. If 100 rabbit farmers were given 100 rabbits, would you answer, "There are 200 men and rabbits"? Even though that implies 200 men and 200 rabbits, or even 25 men and 175 rabbits?

The grammarian's answer was to eliminate ambiguity. Language isn't math, so you don't give the numbered correct answer. Instead, write "100 men, with a rabbit each" or "100 men and their respective rabbits."


I recently wrote a sentence that described a woman who wore pencils in the bun of her hair and blue jumpers.

I didn't mean that she wore pencils in her blue jumpers.


What other ambiguous sentences have you had to edit?

I could list 100 questions on my last test alone I got wrong because I misinterpreted the wording. The issue was the teacher removed questions that changed the subject so I thought they were follow on type questions and had to do it all over again!

I would've said 10,000 rabbits based on the wording. While I do slightly better at word problems than just regular math, the wording can throw everything completely off. One little error or ill worded detail can result in...well....10,000 rabbits!!!

I once wrote this scene on my short, I can't remember the exact words but it's something like this;

"He wore a pair of jeans, a shirt and a leather jacket complete with two scarves all neatly tied around his neck"

Now it's easy enough to understand but sometimes people find it funny because they thought he wore the shirt, jacket and the scarves around his neck. Which for some reason doesn't really make it weird if you've read that story of mine.

I think this kind of branches into the commas save lives meme. Also the need commas meme ha ha.

Commas are so important!! I'm the type that will always err on the side of caution with commas and use one if I'm not sure.

I'm shocked that a magazine let that Rachel Ray one make it to print.

I would just say 100 men and 100 rabbits just to make the test easier. I had to read that sentence a few times just to understand it! Very tricky indeed. I haven't really edited anything like this before. I just remember having difficulties because of missing commas.

Something like:

Let's eat John.

That's how you find out if your friends are cannibals! They say "Yeah, John sounds delicious!"