: Does adding an indefinite article in this sentence hurt the flow, or does it improve clarity? To me, it sounds fine to say "She wore a black shirt and red skirt", without the indefinite article

To me, it sounds fine to say "She wore a black shirt and red skirt", without the indefinite article before "red skirt".

However, in "She wore a black shirt and red skirt revealing slim legs", I worry that the lack of an indefinite article makes it sound as though both the shirt and the skirt are revealing slim legs, rather than just the skirt. On the other hand, adding the indefinite article makes it sound a bit cumbersome.

Should I include an indefinite article?

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@Steve161

I would say "yes" to the headline question and the one in the post. It would possibly do both - improve the clarity and hurt the flow.

I'd go for a comma. "She wore a black shirt, and a red skirt revealing slim legs." That way the reader knows where to pause.

[Opinions differ on the serial (Oxford) comma. I've always been a big fan of it myself but my parents, Margaret Thatcher and Batman always advised against it.]

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@Welton431

In the second case, yes add it. It would make it more clear. In general, if you detect ambiguity, eliminate it, clarity trumps all else.

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: Does adding an indefinite article in this sentence hurt the flow, or does it improve clarity? To me, it sounds fine to say "She wore a black shirt and red skirt", without the indefinite article

More posts by @Courtney562

: Storyteller/creator vs writer Since I've begun to attempt this thing called writing, proper writing not coming up with tales and bits to amuse little kids, I've had this doubt. What are the

: Sounds: how to describe them? How do I describe the sound of a low growl in a low technological culture context? All that comes to mind as possible descriptions are the sounds of rolling

: Is there a name for layers of subtext? For each line of dialog, I have three pieces of text: the dialog itself, and two things I call Subtext1 and Subtext2 for now. Dialog: Self-explanatory,

: How to write an English paper about a short story? I have never written an English paper in my life am in Middle School. My mom (I am homeschooled) is requiring that I "write a paper".

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