'loss of life“ VS ”loss of lives"

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  1. This year’s target is reducing loss of life.



In the context, it means to reduce fatalities. In my opinion, since there are many lives invovled, the above sentence should be worded like this:




  1. This year’s target is reducing loss of lives.



Am I right, or more possibly wrong?






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    up vote
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    favorite













    1. This year’s target is reducing loss of life.



    In the context, it means to reduce fatalities. In my opinion, since there are many lives invovled, the above sentence should be worded like this:




    1. This year’s target is reducing loss of lives.



    Am I right, or more possibly wrong?






    singular-vs-plural







    share|improve this question























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite












      1. This year’s target is reducing loss of life.



      In the context, it means to reduce fatalities. In my opinion, since there are many lives invovled, the above sentence should be worded like this:




      1. This year’s target is reducing loss of lives.



      Am I right, or more possibly wrong?






      singular-vs-plural







      share|improve this question














      1. This year’s target is reducing loss of life.



      In the context, it means to reduce fatalities. In my opinion, since there are many lives invovled, the above sentence should be worded like this:




      1. This year’s target is reducing loss of lives.



      Am I right, or more possibly wrong?






      singular-vs-plural




      singular-vs-plural






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 3 hours ago









      Mike Philip

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          Life is used as a mass (non-count) noun in "loss of life". It means "one death or more". The death of one person is a loss of life. "Lives" in a plural noun. "Loss of lives" means "more than one death". In the context of reducing an expected large future fatality figure, either would be understood, but a native speaker might hear "loss of lives" and assume you don't care much if one person dies.






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            Life is used as a mass (non-count) noun in "loss of life". It means "one death or more". The death of one person is a loss of life. "Lives" in a plural noun. "Loss of lives" means "more than one death". In the context of reducing an expected large future fatality figure, either would be understood, but a native speaker might hear "loss of lives" and assume you don't care much if one person dies.






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              Life is used as a mass (non-count) noun in "loss of life". It means "one death or more". The death of one person is a loss of life. "Lives" in a plural noun. "Loss of lives" means "more than one death". In the context of reducing an expected large future fatality figure, either would be understood, but a native speaker might hear "loss of lives" and assume you don't care much if one person dies.






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                4
                down vote










                up vote
                4
                down vote









                Life is used as a mass (non-count) noun in "loss of life". It means "one death or more". The death of one person is a loss of life. "Lives" in a plural noun. "Loss of lives" means "more than one death". In the context of reducing an expected large future fatality figure, either would be understood, but a native speaker might hear "loss of lives" and assume you don't care much if one person dies.






                share|improve this answer












                Life is used as a mass (non-count) noun in "loss of life". It means "one death or more". The death of one person is a loss of life. "Lives" in a plural noun. "Loss of lives" means "more than one death". In the context of reducing an expected large future fatality figure, either would be understood, but a native speaker might hear "loss of lives" and assume you don't care much if one person dies.







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                answered 46 mins ago









                Michael Harvey

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