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September 2007

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Subject:
From:
Johanna Rubba <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:17:49 -0700
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text/plain
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Paul,

I did not have the numeral sense in mind, but the impersonal or  
generic sense. Impersonal/generic/indefinite is a correct  
characterization, since the reference here is similar to generic  
"you" or "someone", "anyone", or "a person". Consider the close  
synonymy of the following:

One should double-check one's quotations when preparing a formal paper.
You should double-check your quotations when preparing a formal paper.
Someone preparing a formal paper should double-check his/her quotations.
Anyone preparing a formal paper should double-check his/her quotations.
A person preparing a formal paper should double-check his/her  
quotations.

The "you" sentence is intended as generic, not personal.

Hope this clears things up.

Johanna

Dr. Johanna Rubba, Associate Professor, Linguistics
Linguistics Minor Advisor
English Department
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel.: 805.756.2184
Dept. Ofc. Tel.: 805.756.2596
Dept. Fax: 805.756.6374
URL: http://www.cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba

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