Mike Stevens
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:59 pm
Post subject: Re: Does this sound awkward? |
|
|
David wrote:
| Quote: | In article <2u04nnF24dn7aU1@uni-berlin.de>, Mike Stevens
michael.stevens@which.net> wrote:
einde. ocallaghan" <"einde. ocallaghan wrote:
They all sound awkward. I would recommend a rewrite - perhaps on
the lines of "How many portions of fruit should be eaten each day
according to nutritionists." or "How many portions of fruit do
nutritionist recommend as the daily minimum."
I agree, and would add another (non-grammatical) reason. Use of the
word "recommended" without a following "by ....." is (IMO) pretty
well devoid of meaning. It's analogous to my pet hate, which is
"unacceptable" without a following "to ...". Each use implies the
existence of an absolute standard which doesn't exist.
Some things are understood, surely? By your reasoning, "acceptable"
without a following "to ..." must also imply your mythical absolute
standard;
|
Yes, it does, and my objection applies.
| Quote: | and "'So-and-so' was commended for his bravery" is also
devoid of meaning.
|
I don't see the analogy here. There is no implication of an absolute
standard. What's more I can;t think of any examples of this use where it's
either explicitly stated or implied who it is that has done the commending.
| Quote: | This is a dangerous road to take for it leads to legalese.
|
In that legal language is designed to make thing unambiguous, I'm not sure
that's totally a bad thing.
--
Mike Stevens
narrowboat Felis Catus II
web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk
Old grammarians never die - they simple parse away
|
|
David
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:49 pm
Post subject: Re: Does this sound awkward? |
|
|
In article <2u196oF25qmvaU1@uni-berlin.de>, Mike Stevens
<michael.stevens@which.net> wrote:
| Quote: | David wrote:
In article <2u04nnF24dn7aU1@uni-berlin.de>, Mike Stevens
michael.stevens@which.net> wrote:
I agree, and would add another (non-grammatical) reason. Use of
the word "recommended" without a following "by ....." is (IMO)
pretty well devoid of meaning. It's analogous to my pet hate,
which is "unacceptable" without a following "to ...". Each use
implies the existence of an absolute standard which doesn't exist.
Some things are understood, surely? By your reasoning, "acceptable"
without a following "to ..." must also imply your mythical absolute
standard;
Yes, it does, and my objection applies.
and "'So-and-so' was commended for his bravery" is also devoid of
meaning.
I don't see the analogy here. There is no implication of an absolute
standard. What's more I can;t think of any examples of this use
where it's either explicitly stated or implied who it is that has
done the commending.
|
Ah! So it's okay to be commended for something but not recommended for
something?
But I really don't see your implied "absolute standard". Someone has
been commended "for something" implies that someone with an authority
to commend has commended them; someone or thing recommended, or some
act found unacceptable, similarly implies the recommending agent or
person stating the unacceptability has some authority so to do, not
that there is a universal absolute standard.
--
http://www.dacha.freeuk.com/zodiac/9sag-0.htm
Sagittarius (November 23rd - December 21st)
Images, Associations, Qualities, Careers, Health |
|
FAQ
Memberlist
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in