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Andrei Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
A lot to be desired
The current state of machine/computer translation software—on the Web or on your PC—leaves a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, today's translation programs can be helpful, as long as you understand what they can and cannot do. If you expect to be able to feed any of these programs text in language A and have it produce a polished, grammatically correct language B translation, then you're in for some serious disappointment.
I have seen the words ' a lot to be desired' in many contexts. What it really means?
In politics, a party has not decided who is going to be théir nominee. So I would write the following:
1] We are still discussing the matter of candidacy and it leaves a lot to be desired.
Is the above correct?
I have seen the words ' a lot to be desired' in many contexts. What it really means?
In politics, a party has not decided who is going to be théir nominee. So I would write the following:
1] We are still discussing the matter of candidacy and it leaves a lot to be desired.
Is the above correct?
Top answer
Hi Andrei, If something 'leaves a lot to be desired', it is unsatisfactory. The 'current state of machine/computer translation software' is unsatisfactory-- it does not work well-- we desire it to do much more or much better. Therefore, your second example doesn't really work: 'We are still discussing the matter of candidacy and it leaves a lot to be desired'-- if you have simply not yet decided on a candidate, the discussion itself is not unsatisfactory, it is continuing.
- Hi Andrei, If something 'leaves a lot to be desired', it is unsatisfactory.
- The 'current state of machine/computer translation software' is unsatisfactory-- it does not work well-- we desire it to do much more or much better.
- Therefore, your second example doesn't really work: 'We are still discussing the matter of candidacy and it leaves a lot to be desired'-- if you have simply not yet decided on a candidate, the discussion itself is not unsatisfactory, it is continuing.
- On the other hand, if it has taken a long time, then ' progress toward selecting a candidate' may leave a lot to be desired.
- Or, if you have been unable to locate any competent nominees, then the quality of the possible choices may leave a lot to be desired.
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1 Answers
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Hi Andrei,
If something 'leaves a lot to be desired', it is unsatisfactory. The 'current state of machine/computer translation software' is unsatisfactory-- it does not work well-- we desire it to do much more or much better.
Therefore, your second example doesn't really work:
'We are still discussing the matter of candidacy and it leaves a lot to be desired'-- if y
If something 'leaves a lot to be desired', it is unsatisfactory. The 'current state of machine/computer translation software' is unsatisfactory-- it does not work well-- we desire it to do much more or much better.
Therefore, your second example doesn't really work:
'We are still discussing the matter of candidacy and it leaves a lot to be desired'-- if y
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