Forum: english.stackexchange.com
Tags: <word-choice>
Title: Is "try taking these ones" correct? (doctor speaking to a patient)
Question: A patient is complaining that the pills that he had given her a week ago don't help, so he opens a drawer, takes another pack of some other pills and says: "Try taking these ones".  Is it correct to say like this? Does it sound natural?

Answers:
sents: text: I was always taught to use "these" instead of "these ones."
answer_details: author: english.stackexchange.com/users/3678/JellyBeanRacer
score: 4
sents: text: Well, this is grammatically correct:
text: Try taking these pills.
text: "pills" is a plural noun "ones" is a plural noun Looks fine, technically, to me.
text: I would say it's fairly unnatural, though.
answer_details: author: english.stackexchange.com/users/3294/Adam
score: 3
sents: text: It is perfectly correct to say "Try taking these ones."
text: Also, in this situation, this statement sounds entirely natural.
text: One might also hear, "Try these."
answer_details: author: english.stackexchange.com/users/2705/Jimi Oke
score: 2
sents: text: Having been informed of a Question Update, here is my new answer.
text: (try + to V)
text: We use this to indicate difficulty in the activity given by the verb.
text: for example, if some one is lying on the floor complaining of an injury to the leg, we might say try to stand up
text: This indicates that, because of the purported injury, we do not yet know whether this person will be able to stand or not.
text: Therefore, they should try and find out. (try v-ing)
text: We use this when suggesting a solution to a problem.
text: For example, if someone is beside you in the crowd of a sporting event or similar and they complain that they cannot see, you might respond try standing up Here
text: you are suggesting the activity given by the verb.
text: We know that the person is physically capable of standing up; we are suggesting that they 'try it out' to see what the results are.
text: Applying this to your example, 'try taking...' would appear to be correct since the doctor is probably not questioning your ability to swallow the pills but rather suggesting that they might solve your problem
text: (i.e. make you feel better).
text: Hope this helps.
answer_details: author: english.stackexchange.com/users/6858/Karl
score: 2
sents: text: I think these ones rather than just these implies there's some specific attribute applicable to each of the proffered alternatives, suggesting they've been individually checked and found to have the required attribute.
text: So a greengrocer might refer to some specially selected apples as these ones if you didn't fancy the scabby ones originally offered.
text: But I can't see a doctor using this construct to refer to an alternative pack of pills which he presumably hasn't even opened and examined.
answer_details: author: english.stackexchange.com/users/2637/FumbleFingers
score: 1
sents: text: I agree with @FumbleFingers that the inclusion of 'ones' seems to add emphasis on a difference between the old pills and the new (ones).
text: I'm not quite sure why there is so much question over 'these ones' from the other posters as I have always thought it ok.
text: Nevertheless, if you really do want to avoid it but still want to emphasise the difference, maybe go for:
text: Try these instead.
text: If I asked which one should I choose, you might answer: Try these If I then tried them and they were no good
text: and I asked for a replacement,
text: you might respond:
text: Try these instead Just to reiterate, I see no problem with 'these ones' and would even be happy with:
text: Try these ones instead
answer_details: author: english.stackexchange.com/users/6858/Karl
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
it is generally agreed that this phrase in this context is grammatically correct. However, there is no agreement as to whether or not it sounds natural. The term "these" instead of "these ones" may be preferred.
The stentence is grammatically correct and sounds natural. An alternative could be "try these". "Ones" is likely used to indicate specific pills and add emphasis.
it is generally agreed that this phrase in this context is grammatically correct. However, there is no agreement as to whether or not it sounds natural. The term "these" instead of "these ones" may be preferred.
It is perfectly correct and natural in this context to say "Try taking these ones".
Although people may not agree if it sounds natural, it is perfectly correct to say "Try taking these ones."
It is considered that this statement is grammatically correct, though it might sound a little unnatural.