We can't get rid of plurality of meaning because syntax isn't semantics. The same syntax can be assigned completely different semantics. In Lisps, we program s

We can't get rid of plurality of meaning because syntax isn't semantics. The same syntax can be assigned completely different semantics. In Lisps, we program syntax with different semantics regularly, so the plurality is part of the daily existence. (defclass a (b c)) and (list a (b c)) have the same shape, but are completely different things. 10 is a piece of syntax, but how do we assign its semantics when it is an argument to a parameter that expects a sequence? That is up in the air the same way. Is it an error, like in most Lisp-like languages? does it count up to 10 from 1? Below 10 from zero? From 10 ad infinitum?) The choice becomes a paradigm in the language that everyone has to understand. What is undesirable is inconsistencies. If certain functions counted up to the number, but others from the number, arbitrarily, that would be objectively worse than consistently doing one or the other.