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Mon 20 Jul, 2020 12:40 am
Would everyone wearing face masks help us slow the pandemic?
Should it be "everyone wearing a face mask" instead?
Thanks.
Could someone please help? Thanks.
@tanguatlay,
It's correct as written. Realistically, it doesn't matter, English speakers will know what you are saying either way.
@engineer,
engineer wrote:
It's correct as written. Realistically, it doesn't matter, English speakers will know what you are saying either way.
Thanks.
But I would like to know which is the correct version if I were taking an exam.
In regard to an ESL test, I think the typical understanding of the sentence would require the singular "a face mask," a single mask for a single individual.
The sentence, however, can be read as referring to every individual who has multiple face masks that they wear.