Are these sentences natural? Nov 23

Question

Hi,Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?1. Consider the case of a consultant that predicts whether an application will be approved or rejected.2. Prior probabilities will be based on how many applications, out of total approved applications, were predicated as potential approvals, and out of all rejected applications, how many were predicated as potential rejections.3. Now we want to know what are the chances that the consultant will predict an application to be a potential approval.Thanks,MG.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?

1. Consider the case of a consultant who ~~that~~ predicts whether an application will be approved or rejected.

2. Prior probabilities will be based on how many applications, out of total approved applications, were predicated as potential approvals, and out of all rejected applications, how many were predicated as potential rejections.

This is ludicrously cumbersome and verbose. I suggest

'Consider how often he has been right in the past'.

3. Now we want to know what are the chances that the consultant will predict an application to be a potential approval.

Again, awkward and verbose.

eg Now we want to know the chances of his predicting a successful application.

Clive

Musicgold · Answer

Thanks Clive.

Clive 2. Prior probabilities will be based on how many applications, out of total approved applications, were predicated as potential approvals, and out of all rejected applications, how many were predicated as potential rejections.

This is ludicrously cumbersome and verbose. I suggest 'Consider how often he has been right in the past'.
I agree that it is verbose. I, however, can't make it as short as the one you have suggested. I need to explain the process. How about this one?

2b. Prior probabilities are based on, of the total approved applications, how many were predicated as potential approvals by the consultant. Also, of the total rejected applications, how many were predicted as rejections.

Clive 3. Now we want to know what are the chances that the consultant will predict an application to be a potential approval.
Again, awkward and verbose.eg Now we want to know the chances of his predicting a successful application. Clive

Ok. Is the indirect question - What are the chances..." correct? I was not sure about the placement of the verb 'are'.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Clive

“ 2. Prior probabilities will be based on how many applications, out of total approved applications, were predicated as potential approvals, and out of all rejected applications, how many were predicated as potential rejections.

This is ludicrously cumbersome and verbose. I suggest 'Consider how often he has been right in the past'. ”

I agree that it is verbose. I, however, can't make it as short as the one you have suggested. I need to explain the process. How about this one?

2b. Prior probabilities are based on, of the total approved applications, how many were predicated as potential approvals by the consultant. Also, of the total rejected applications, how many were predicted as rejections.

No.

I suggest this.

Prior probabilities are based on the total applications. The process reviews how many approvals were correctly predicted by the consultant, and how many rejections were correctly predicted as rejections.

Clive

“ 3. Now we want to know what are the chances that the consultant will predict an application to be a potential approval.
Again, awkward and verbose.eg Now we want to know the chances of his predicting a successful application. Clive”

Ok. Is the indirect question - What are the chances..." correct? No. I was not sure about the placement of the verb 'are'.

More "report-style" language would be to talk about 'the likelihood'.

Clive

Musicgold · Answer

Thanks Clive.

Are these sentences natural? Nov 23

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