Argument at work regarding the contents of an email

Question

Dear Forum users,I am just smarting from an argument I had with a colleague at work, the subject was as follows.' Rob has been sent the latest planning drawings and a cross section of the staircase. 'This statement was sent in response to a request from our boss to send the drawings to Rob, is the grammar in this sentence correct ?Thanks in anticipation of your responseDr Funk

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I am just smarting from an argument I had with a colleague at work, the subject was as follows.

' Rob has been sent the latest planning drawings and a cross-section of the staircase. ' (<<<<note the added hyphen)

This statement was sent in response to a request from our boss to send the drawings to Rob, is the grammar in this sentence correct ?
The grammar is correct. However, the use of the passive makes the sentence seem a bit weak, and in my opinion would be less often used. Why not be more direct?

I have sent Rob the latest planning drawings and a cross-section of the staircase.

The passive is often used to avoid stressing personal responsibility. eg A mistake has been made instead of I have made a mistake.

Best wishes, Clive

Avangi · Answer

Welcome to the English Forums, Doctor. Thanks for joining us.

You may change from "smarting" to "red-faced," because as far as I can tell it's correct. I'm not sure which part of the statement you object to.

I think the technical term is "plan drawing," but "planning drawings" is grammatically correct. Likewise, "a cross section" is a very common drafting term which shows the view you would see if you were to slice the object (staircase) into two pieces and remove the piece closest to you. (I believe a plan drawing shows the layout of of the various components with respect to each other.)

I realize your question was about the grammar, but I wanted to address the possibility that you weren't accustomed to these two expressions, or compound nouns, or whatever they are. In that case, the words by themselves might seem to make up a strange sentence.

Best wishes, - A.

Dr Funk · Answer

Hi Clive

Many thanks for your prompt response, interestingly my colleague refused to accept your argument claiming as he does not know your qualifications he would consult a friend of his who has a Masters degree in English.......... much laughter......
I am perfectly satisfied with your response as are a few other colleagues of mine, it relieived the boredom of another afternoon at work and brought a smile to our faces.

Again thanks for the response.

Andrew

Avangi · Answer

Hi, Andrew. I don't wish to disturb the tranquility of your office, but someone with a Master's degree in Architecture or Engineering might make a better contribution.

BTW, you failed to mention which side of the argument you are on. - A.

Edit. Sorry, I think I had you on the wrong side!

Dr Funk · Answer

Hi Avangi, thanks for your response also.

In fact we both have Masters degrees in Architecture; In the UK planning drawings are submitted to the local planning authority, I think the equivalent of building code drawings in North America, the issue was in fact 'Rob has been sent' Clive in fact unwittingly made my argument even more cogent because I was responding to an email received from my boss, who asked me to send the forementioned drawings to Rob, the sentence in question was in response to this as I did not send the drawings, but had in fact asked Mark my colleague to send them, so I was in fact avoiding stressing personal responsibility for sending them.
I copied my colleague in on the response and he rather loudly proclaimed my grammar was wrong.
He is clearly very thick skinned as he did not turn red when I rammed your responses down his throat.......smile........the point was made

Again Thanks guys you made my afternoon.

Best Wishes

Andrew

Argument at work regarding the contents of an email

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