in your paper? on your paper?

[peterwook]

Hi,

I ran into an english grammar question, "write down your answer in/on your paper"
The following is the rule of a certain game.

1. Draw some flowers and a bird on your paper.
2. Draw a small river by them and some clouds in the sky.
3. Which season is this? Write down the answer in your paper.

In No.1 it says "on your paper" but in No.3 it says "write down the answer in your paper."
can't we say "write down the answer on your paper"?
is there a difference between them?

thank you!

 

[konungursvia]

On your paper means on your sheet of paper. But "paper" sometimes means more than a sheet, it's also used for a newspaper, publication or essay. In those cases, we say "in your paper."

 

[nupur]

The sentence - "Write your answer on your paper", is completely incorrect.

Your cannot be used twice in a sentence.

1. Write your answer on the paper.

2. Write the answer on your paper.

3. Write the answer on the paper.


These can be used

 

[konungursvia]

It may be redundant, but incorrect is going too far.

Your intention is good, but your words mislead.

 

[nupur]

Please help me with some examples and also the reason.

 

[konungursvia]

The idea that grammar and logic are the same thing is faulty -- in fact, logic is based on axiomatized rules reflecting the behaviour of material things; whereas a grammar is a normative set of social rules, quite the opposite in a sense.

You are correct that the second use of "your" is not needed in the OP's post; but calling it "completely incorrect" is an exaggeration. It is logically redundant, but fairly natural and not agrammatical.