[Grammar] knowledge of line of equipment?

[MarieLina]

Hi all,

Can you please check whether it is correct to say:

"Knowledge of Unicor, McElroy and others' line of equipment"

It was taken from requirements to candidate for an engineering position.

Thank you

 

[billmcd]

Hi all,

Can you please check whether it is correct to say:

"Knowledge of Unicor, McElroy and others' line of equipment"

It was taken from requirements to candidate for an engineering position.

Thank you

Yes. The apostrophe is only required in the last of a list of multiple nouns.

P.S. I really like your personal icon.

 

[Barb_D]

I would suggest "and other lines of equipment."

Though that seems rather broad for a requirement - if you can't specify them, how could the candidate know whether he or she met this condition?

 

[billmcd]

I would suggest "and other lines of equipment."

Though that seems rather broad for a requirement - if you can't specify them, how could the candidate know whether he or she met this condition?

With reference to the original post, "...and others' (refers to other companies) line of equipment", and "...other lines of equipment (would refer to equipment). Also, the statement is not asking the candidate to specify the lines. It is simply requiring that the candidate be knowledgeable about the lines of equipment.

 

[Barb_D]

I belielve "other lines of equipment" would be read to mean "equipment from other companies."
Regardless, how does a candidate know if he or she is knowledgeable about equipment if you haven't specified which ones?

 

[billmcd]

I belielve "other lines of equipment" would be read to mean "equipment from other companies."
Regardless, how does a candidate know if he or she is knowledgeable about equipment if you haven't specified which ones?

As the candidate, I would read the requirement to mean that if I were familiar with/knowledgeable about McElroy and Unicor's lines, I would/should know about other similar companies of that type and their respective lines.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi all,

Can you please check whether it is correct to say:

"Knowledge of Unicor, McElroy and others' line of equipment"

It was taken from requirements to candidate for an engineering position.

Thank you

I would read that to mean "Knowledge of the lines of equipment of Unicor, [of] McElroy and [of] other companies is required."

 

[Barb_D]

Would you make "lines" plural?

 

[emsr2d2]

Would you make "lines" plural?

Yes. I would assume that the various different companies also make various different lines of equipment. To be fair, without knowing the technical side of this (ie I have no idea what these companies do or what they make), I can't make a definitive suggestion. This is my best guess.

 

[billmcd]

I would read that to mean "Knowledge of the lines of equipment of Unicor, [of] McElroy and [of] other companies is required."

Yes, exactly, but "line" (singular form) of equipment from the original post by Mariel can be considered plural as defined by Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, "services (plural) or merchandise of the same general class for sale". So, I see nothing wrong with the original statement, although you have made it quite clear.

 

[MarieLina]

I really like your personal icon.

Thank you!

 

[MarieLina]

billmcd, Barb_D, emsr2d2 - thank you all for the discussion!