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Hoa Thai Posted 19 years ago
Linguistics Studies
'but of' revisited
Hi,
A complaint was registered that I brought up the question out of place in the grammar forum when I tried to justify why Amitav Ghosh, the author of The Glass Palace, used but of asymmetrically without the support of ‘not … of’ .
However, my justification did not get a reply from anyone; and I still am wondering if my ‘out of place’ discussion was the reason, or the justification has no merit. Could anybody care to share an opinion? Here is the sentence in question with my unvarnished words added in parentheses:
"The crenellated ramparts were almost three storeys high (,built not with an idea of immensity), but of a soaring lightness, red in colour, and topped by ornamented gateways with seven-tiered roofs,”
Thanks
Hoa Thai
A complaint was registered that I brought up the question out of place in the grammar forum when I tried to justify why Amitav Ghosh, the author of The Glass Palace, used but of asymmetrically without the support of ‘not … of’ .
However, my justification did not get a reply from anyone; and I still am wondering if my ‘out of place’ discussion was the reason, or the justification has no merit. Could anybody care to share an opinion? Here is the sentence in question with my unvarnished words added in parentheses:
"The crenellated ramparts were almost three storeys high (,built not with an idea of immensity), but of a soaring lightness, red in colour, and topped by ornamented gateways with seven-tiered roofs,”
Thanks
Hoa Thai
Top answer
Hi, A complaint was registered that I brought up the question out of place in the grammar forum when I tried to justify why Amitav Ghosh, the author of The Glass Palace , used but of asymmetrically without the support of ‘ not … of’ . Post: 447060 However, my justification did not get a reply from anyone; and I still am wondering if my ‘out of place’ discussion was the reason, or the justification has no merit. Could anybody care to share an opinion?
- Hi, A complaint was registered that I brought up the question out of place in the grammar forum when I tried to justify why Amitav Ghosh, the author of The Glass Palace , used but of asymmetrically without the support of ‘ not … of’ .
- Post: 447060 However, my justification did not get a reply from anyone; and I still am wondering if my ‘out of place’ discussion was the reason, or the justification has no merit.
- Could anybody care to share an opinion?
- Here is the sentence in question with my unvarnished words added in parentheses: "The crenellated ramparts were almost three storeys high (,built not with an idea of immensity), but of a soaring lightness, red in colour , and topped by ornamented gateways with seven-tiered roofs,” "The crenellated ramparts were almost three storeys high but of a soaring lightness, red in colour , and topped by ornamented gateways with seven-tiered roofs,” I just looked at your sentence as quoted here, and not at the link and the previous discussion.
- I assume the version in italics is what Ghosh wrote.
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3 Answers
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Hi,
A complaint was registered that I brought up the question out of place in the grammar forum when I tried to justify why Amitav Ghosh, the author of The Glass Palace, used but of asymmetrically without the support of ‘not … of’ . Post: 447060
A complaint was registered that I brought up the question out of place in the grammar forum when I tried to justify why Amitav Ghosh, the author of The Glass Palace, used but of asymmetrically without the support of ‘not … of’ . Post: 447060
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but does not require the symmetry (or parallelism) you're looking for, though it can, if desired.
Example: The food was cold, but delicious.
This need not be stated as The food was not warm, but delicious.
Likewise, The hammer was misshapen, but of great use on the project.
This need not be stated as The hammer was
Example: The food was cold, but delicious.
This need not be stated as The food was not warm, but delicious.
Likewise, The hammer was misshapen, but of great use on the project.
This need not be stated as The hammer was
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Hi Clive,
Thank you!
Hi CalifJim,
I understand you well and thank you for walking me through your explanation step-by-step.
Is the construct something is of something / someone / an idea idiomatic? Without but for contrasting effect, ‘The crenellated ramparts were of soaring lightness’ sounds a bit unpleasant to my ear – perhaps, I hav
Thank you!
Hi CalifJim,
I understand you well and thank you for walking me through your explanation step-by-step.
Is the construct something is of something / someone / an idea idiomatic? Without but for contrasting effect, ‘The crenellated ramparts were of soaring lightness’ sounds a bit unpleasant to my ear – perhaps, I hav
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