"Both" Before Multiple Nouns

Both passengers were fine. 

Nothing wrong with that. But what about: Both passengers and the crew were fine.

Does that mean that there were only two passengers? Or might there be multiple passengers and "both" just meant to indicate passengers and the crew alike were fine? Something to think about when you use "both" before multiple nouns. If the first noun is plural, "both" can only confuse.

 

 

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