Why we can say both ?

Question

Hi My last english question for today!

if we need to say, "The students wrote down their names and addresses on a piece of paper.

why we can say

Students should write down their name and address to apply for the position. (name and address are both singular)

I think the second sentence is correct too or should it be

Students should write down their names and addresses to apply for the position.

Answer 1

English needs to be simple to work well. "Their" is obviously plural so it makes sense to have names and addresses. This then allows for no ambiguity in the phrase. "Students wrote down their name and address" - could be construed that they all had the same name and address! Perhaps it's just me!

Answer 2

Unless the students each have more than one name and address it should be:

"Students should write down their name and address to apply for the position". (by the context I am assuming that you are requesting that they do this individually).

Going back to your first sentence, "The students wrote down their names and addresses on a piece of paper" is correct because it refers to a group of students and the group together had more than one name and one address, thus you can state in plural.

Contrast that with "Each of the students wrote down their name and address on a piece of paper." Once again you must go back to the individual and the individual only has one name and one address.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

the first example is suggesting that more than one student wrote their name and address (hence why it's plural)
the second is directing each student to do the action of writing their own name and address (to which they only have one of, hence being singular)
the last sentence does not seem be correct at all, don't use that one!

Answer 4

actually though you could use either"Students should write down their names and addresses to apply for the position" would mean that they have more than one name and address to write down

Answer 5

I personally think the answer should be:

Students should write down their names and addresses to apply for the position.

I hope this helps. Happy New Year!!

Answer 6

You can say both of these, though purists would insist the first one is not correct.

This is because of the awkwardnessof saying "his or her".

"Their" is used as a substitute for "his or her" and so is treated as singular in this context and not plural

Answer 7

I would add the s to both words.
I would also say, "Students should write down their information" just to clear everything up.

Answer 8

Both fine. I'm really curious as to why you worry about these things...

Answer 9

They are both correct.

Answer 10

I believe in both cases sir you are right - good luck!!!