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Michaelting Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

By force

I took his pencil by force.

Is 'by force' an acceptable phrase?
  

Top answer

Hi, I took his pencil by force. Is 'by force' an acceptable phrase? It's correct English.

— Clive

  • Hi, I took his pencil by force.
  • Is 'by force' an acceptable phrase?
  • It's correct English.
  • But it sounds ludicrous to use it for such a minor action.
  • It sounds more suitable to say eg I robbed the bank by force.
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3 Answers
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Hi,

I took his pencil by force.

Is 'by force' an acceptable phrase? It's correct English. But it sounds ludicrous to use it for such a minor action.

It sounds more suitable to say eg I robbed the bank by force.

Perhaps

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I robbed the bank by force.

Doesn't the word rob already show by force?
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Hi,

Yes, it was just a quick example.

Perhaps 'Tom became King by force'.

My point was that the phrase sounds odd if used for minor matters.

Clive
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