Which of the following statements about premises is true?

The statement regarding premises that is true focuses on the rules of syllogistic reasoning, particularly in relation to how terms are distributed within the argument. When a term in a syllogism is used, it can only be considered "distributed" if it refers to all members of that category.

In a valid categorical syllogism, a term must appear in both premises to be distributed in the conclusion. This is because the conclusion draws its validity from the logical connections established in the premises. Therefore, if a term appears only once in a premise (without being repeated), it cannot be said to apply to all instances in the conclusion, leading to potential ambiguity or misunderstanding.

Understanding this principle is key in ensuring that arguments are logical and follow the rules of valid reasoning. This insight is crucial in the study of logic and debates, where the clarity and structure of arguments directly influence the strength of the position being argued.