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All two of them

All two of them

All two of them

(OP)
Is it acceptable to use the word "all" in place of "both" when refering to only two items?

Comments?

RE: All two of them

This may confuse someone if the word "both" was part of a discription in a group that may be altered with modified items and all the modifications in the group are not alike.
"All" may give a false sence of security or completion.
Just a thought.

RE: All two of them

I allus say "s'long y'all" to my two parents, so thar's proof for yer.
Oops, sorry, wrong thread !

RE: All two of them

No.

...well, you asked.

Patricia Lougheed

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of the Eng-Tips Forums.

RE: All two of them

Arrest either one or the other.
Arrest both of them.
Arrest all of them.
I think the third example infers there is more than 2

RE: All two of them

YES!

"both" is a subset of "all", so "all" includes it's subset.

I like to say "All both of them" just for a chuckle.

remember: An opinion is only as good as the one who gives it!

RE: All two of them

But "all" still implies (but doesn't infer) that there are more than two. If you have a situation where there *might* be only two, but might be more, "all" is fine.

Next question--can you say "all y'all" to two people? I'd say "botha y'all", but what do I know?

RE: All two of them

If you say "all y'all", is this like a double negative so you're really talking to know one but yourself? Which may be frown on or upon.

RE: All two of them

as opposed to "summa y'all", y'know? "Y'all" is southern for "youse guys".

RE: All two of them

"ya'll" can be either singular or plural;  somewhat like fish and fishes.

RE: All two of them

(OP)
Actually just like fish. Fishes is always plural, unlike glasses.

RE: All two of them

JDANA,

Thanks for the correction :)

RE: All two of them

If you're from Texas, you can say "all y'all" anytime you want, to refer to any size group you want.

In East Tennessee, we just used "y'all" and figured that the person or people could figure out if they were more than one.

If you're a transplant, then use whatever generic terem you're comfortable with.  I now live in Illinois (and have for 15 years. They say "youse guys."  I still say "y'all".

Patricia Lougheed

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