In E statements, which terms are distributed?

• A. Both terms are distributed.
• B. Only the subject-term is distributed.
• C. Only the predicate-term is distributed.
• D. Neither term is distributed.

Answer: (A)

Distribution in categorical propositions asks whether the claim applies to all members of a term. In universal statements the subject term is distributed, and in an E statement the claim is about all of the subject class and, due to its universal negation form, about all of the predicate class as well. So in an E statement—“No S are P”—the claim says every S is not P and, equivalently, every P is not S. That universal scope over both terms means both the subject-term and the predicate-term are distributed. For example, “No dogs are cats” implies all dogs are not cats and all cats are not dogs, showing both terms are distributed.