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Moon7296 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
(ambiguity) ambiguous subject?
Not littering and recycling can help reduce pollution and make the environment more beautiful and safer for people and animals.
Q) The subject can't mean "not littering and not recycling" because of the context, can it?
Q2) But in some context, that kind of subject can be ambiguous, can't it? (Not eating and drinking water can be good on diet. => either "Not eating and not drinking water ...." or "Not eating and drinking water ....")
Q) The subject can't mean "not littering and not recycling" because of the context, can it?
Q2) But in some context, that kind of subject can be ambiguous, can't it? (Not eating and drinking water can be good on diet. => either "Not eating and not drinking water ...." or "Not eating and drinking water ....")
Top answer
1. Right, but it is poorly written for this reason. 2.
- 1.
- Right, but it is poorly written for this reason.
- 2.
- I think we look for "or" in that case: not eating or drinking water = not eating and not drinking water.
- You are right that it is ambiguous with "and".
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2 Answers
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1. Right, but it is poorly written for this reason.
2. I think we look for "or" in that case: not eating or drinking water = not eating and not drinking water. You are right that it is ambiguous with "and". The unwanted meaning does not even have to be possible in this case. The reader is confused no matter what and has to search for the right interpretation.
2. I think we look for "or" in that case: not eating or drinking water = not eating and not drinking water. You are right that it is ambiguous with "and". The unwanted meaning does not even have to be possible in this case. The reader is confused no matter what and has to search for the right interpretation.
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moon7296that kind of subject can be ambiguous, can't it?It certainly can! We know by context what is meant in this particular sentence, but this construction is not at all advisable in the general case. Putting the negative element last is the minimum a writer should do in such cases: Recycling and not littering ....
CJ
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