Phil Druker/Department of English/ University of Idaho

 

Phil Druker/ Department of English/ U of Idaho

 

Dealing with “respectively”

 Sometimes using "respectively" with strings of data works, but if your string on data is too long (more that two or three), it becomes difficult for the reader to follow.

 OK:

The pinion and gear were designed with 15 and 33 teeth, respectively.

 Less OK:

The pinion, idler, and gear were designed with 15, 24, and 33 teeth, respectively.

 Not so good:

The pinion, idler, rocker, and gear were designed with 15, 24, 5, and 33 teeth, respectively.

 Alternative:  use a table. 

The design used this configuration:

Pinon

15 teeth

Idler

5 teeth

Rocker

24 teeth

Gear

33 teeth

Alternative: use a sentence.

The pinion has 15 teeth, the idler has 5, the rocker has 24, and the gear has 33.

 

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