Zutsu vs Atari

[Siesta]

Why is Zutsu wrong here and atari is right? What is the difference?

[Sasugasm]

Zutsu more or less describes increments from what I understand:
You can buy something X by X / in increments of X (X-zutsu) for example.
Atari describes something per increment of X instead in your example.
If that explanation helps.

[Fuga]

Hey @Siesta !

あたり is used when you just want to say ‘per/each’, but ずつ is used when there is that extra nuance of ‘at a time’. Due to this nuance, it would sound a bit unnatural to use ずつ in this sentence!

[Asher]

Not sure if this is a helpful explanation, but I like to think of these two as highlighting very different things. Basically -

当たり - Each thing that meets the condition of (A).
ずつ - Each thing from within a group of many (A).

Basically in this case, ずつ would make it sound like the one can is part of a group of like 10 cans or something.

[Siesta]

Thank you that helps!

[Siesta]

Helpful, thanks!