LANGUAGE CORNER
Both
Putting Two Together
The word "both" takes two elements and makes them one. With that in mind, this: "Both of the candidates tried to link their opponent to the perceived weaknesses of their parties." Their opponent? The two of them, together, have an opponent? Not what the writer meant; he meant, "Each of the candidates tried to link his opponent to the perceived weakness of his party." (Or, for absolute clarity, "...the opponent's party.")
Addendum, July 15, 1998:
One news article had it both ways. Near the beginning, "Both
sides remain far apart in those discussions" was wrong; the
two, together, weren't far apart from something else. Near the
end, "But the lawyers said the two sides were still far apart
on several fronts" got it right.
