Use a three-step procedure.
Step 1: identify the intended meaning, rather than relying on the number of words. Is it a general kind or a definite individual?
Step 2: ask whether multiple individuals could share that very meaning. If yes, it is universal.
Step 3: if only one identified referent fits the intended expression, classify it as particular.
For instance 'water' is universal while 'this cup', when a definite cup is indicated, is particular.
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A three-step method for the book’s exercises
Universal and Particular — Definitions and Practical Classification
Use a three-step procedure.
Step 1: identify the intended meaning, rather than relying on the number of words. Is it a general kind or a definite individual?
Step 2: ask whether multiple individuals could share that very meaning. If yes, it is universal.
Step 3: if only one identified referent fits the intended expression, classify it as particular.
For instance 'water' is universal while 'this cup', when a definite cup is indicated, is particular.