conundrum

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Sarah Hurst wrote:

> I think it just has to be "They built a confectionery factory and a
> pasta factory." That seems to be the only way to clarify that there
> was one of each.

I think this belt-and-suspenders approach is overkill. To my mind, "a 
confectionery and a pasta factories" is clear enough (assuming the 
reader won't read "confectionery" as a noun). But many readers and 
writers will be uncomfortable with "a... [pl.]," so perhaps overkill is 
the best way to go.

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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