0
Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Choice in part to quote
Hi,
If something like this appear in writing, I would be wendering if she or he have chosen the word 'steering' to correctly reflect the overall impression of what John said. Is he or she a sole party to bear the responsibility of choosing the best possible word to correctly reflect what he or she sees as a correct interpretation of the quoted content when he didn't put it in quotes?
John described their view as steering a "middle course between two extremes."
To me, the word "steering" gives a different meaning thatn words like "giving" or "go forward". Is it OK to choose a word based on what he or she thinks best reflects what has been said by John?
If something like this appear in writing, I would be wendering if she or he have chosen the word 'steering' to correctly reflect the overall impression of what John said. Is he or she a sole party to bear the responsibility of choosing the best possible word to correctly reflect what he or she sees as a correct interpretation of the quoted content when he didn't put it in quotes?
John described their view as steering a "middle course between two extremes."
To me, the word "steering" gives a different meaning thatn words like "giving" or "go forward". Is it OK to choose a word based on what he or she thinks best reflects what has been said by John?
Top answer
You don't have a lot of choices. "take a middle course" or "steer a middle course". It's hard to tell from the sentence whether the writer is quoting John's words "middle course between two extremes" or whether the writer considers the quoted words some sort of special terminology.
- You don't have a lot of choices.
- "take a middle course" or "steer a middle course".
- It's hard to tell from the sentence whether the writer is quoting John's words "middle course between two extremes" or whether the writer considers the quoted words some sort of special terminology.
- Anonymous Is it OK to choose a word based on what he or she thinks best reflects what has been said by John?
- Yes, certainly, but I don't see how that applies to this example because, as I said, the word choices are so limited.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
You don't have a lot of choices. "take a middle course" or "steer a middle course".
It's hard to tell from the sentence whether the writer is quoting John's words "middle course between two extremes" or whether the writer considers the quoted words some sort of special terminology.
It's hard to tell from the sentence whether the writer is quoting John's words "middle course between two extremes" or whether the writer considers the quoted words some sort of special terminology.
AnonymousIs it OK to choose a word based on what he or she thinks best reflects what has
00
<< John described their view as steering a "middle course between two extremes." >>
That's a really interesting question. John may or may not be a member of the group who hold the view. And then we have the bloke who has written the sentence. The author ascribes the quote to John, and, since the author doesn't include "steering" in the quote, we're led to assume it's of his
That's a really interesting question. John may or may not be a member of the group who hold the view. And then we have the bloke who has written the sentence. The author ascribes the quote to John, and, since the author doesn't include "steering" in the quote, we're led to assume it's of his
00
Thank you for being straight forward in your assessment. Your answer seems to reflect your integrity, at least in the matter of reporting what someone has said. Thank you.
0
Related Questions