Grammar Query

[Tarser]

I would like to know which of the the following sentences is correct English:

1."British history has been a history of these idiots killing each other."

2."British history has been a history of these idiots killing one another."

Does 'each other' imply that there are only two people involved? I prefer the first sentence but the second one might be the correct one.

[Prudie]

I think both are grammatically correct and mean the same thing. "British history has been a history" however is awkward and grates. Britain has a history of reads better. IMO.

[dannyk13]

I agree with Prudie

[sandyRoe]

Using 'history' twice in the same sentence? How about, '...history has been an account of these...'?
And maybe 'idiots' is carrying too much of a judgemental tone.

[Sqad]

\\\\Does 'each other' imply that there are only two people involved? \\\

No it doesn't.

I agree with Prudie and dannyK.

[Peter Pedant]

Good question
if you google ' meaning of each ' - the ABers have it

however - nouns around as single or plural BUT there is also 'dual' meaning (two) which you learn in Ancient Greek but has ceased around 350BC ( when the OT was translated into Greek'
You still get it in Arabic

all in arabic ( kull ) has a dual ( killair ) and is usually translated as 'both'


Lequel in Fransh means which of two innit ?

duals are pretty uncommon in indo-european languages

pair is a collective noun for two - brace is as well - twins ......

[Sqad]

PP...thanks ...that has cleared it up.............

[Peter Pedant]

oops sorry that was linguistics and not grammar

sozza

s

[Sqad]

If I was asked to go on Desert Island Discs and to take one person and one piece of music, my choice would be.

Companion......Peter Pedant

Music........Fugue in D major, Op.137 (Beethoven, Ludwig van) ...

[THECORBYLOON]

Some DO say "each other" if there are only two folk involved and "one another" if there are more. I had a look online and there are arguments for and against it but I would tend to support the "one another" if more than two are involved.

[Mosaic]

I know many academics who would still write 'an history' and correct you for using 'a history'. Mind, they probably ridde to an hotel on the omnibus.

[Canary42]

"Killing each other", to me carries a suggestion of a mutual action between two people, rather unlikely in this case. So I'm more comfortable with the second option, but I don't think it's particularly critical.

[Jackdaw33]

Lequel ( laquelle. lesquels, lesquelles) means which one (ones). If you are given a choice of any number from two upwards you would be asked Lequel (etc) voulez-vous?

[Jackdaw33]

The only word which springs to mind immediately with a specific dual meaning is 'between', with 'among' being used for more than two.

[jourdain2]

Agree with Prudie.

[jourdain2]

P.S. I use 'an historian'! The unaspirated H is a very recent development!

[shoota]

Lucky man....^^^^

[jourdain2]

^^^^ SORRY! Aspirated ----- it's late :)

[Jackdaw33]

I have no problem in pronouncing the word 'les' before a vowel. It is lez. However I do have a problem with words beginning with 'oi'. Is it ley oiseaux or leyz oiseaux? I can never remember, as the former sounds easier to say.

[shoota]

ley zoiseau