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HeavensCloud Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Detract From

"He tried to belittle ((the enormity of)) the accident."
"He tried to make light ((the enormity of)) of the accident."
"He tried to detract from ((the enormity of)) the accident."
"He tried to take away from ((the enormity of)) the accident."

How necessary is "the enormity of"?
  

Top answer

HeavensCloud How necessary is "the enormity of"? Only moderately necessary, if at all. You certainly won't make the sentences grammatically wrong if you leave it out.

  • HeavensCloud How necessary is "the enormity of"?
  • Only moderately necessary, if at all.
  • You certainly won't make the sentences grammatically wrong if you leave it out.
  • CJ
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8 Answers
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HeavensCloudHow necessary is "the enormity of"?
Only moderately necessary, if at all.

You certainly won't make the sentences grammatically wrong if you leave it out.

CJ
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Hi,

Consider this difference. Let's just look at one of your sentences
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"He tried to make light of the enormity of the accident." I take this to mean that he tried to say the huge size of the accident was not important.
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Thank you for the advice, everyone!

Does that mean "make light of", "belittle", "take away from", and "detract from" are interchangeable in this context (accident)?
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Hi,

Does that mean "make light of", "belittle", "take away from", and "detract from" are interchangeable in this context (accident)?
No.

Only 'make light of' fits well here.

Here's the very broad idea.

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Thanks Clive!

So,

a "He tried to belittle the accident."
b "He tried to make light of the accident."
c "He tried to detract from the accident."
d "He tried to take away from the accident."

e "He tried to belittle her success."
f "He tried to make light of her success."
g "He tried to detract from her success."
h "He tried to take away from her
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Hi,

So,

a "He tried to belittle the accident."
b "He tried to make light of the accident."
c "He tried to detract from the accident."
d "He tried to take away from the accident."

e "He tried to belittle her success."
f "He tried to make light of her success."
g "He tried to detract f
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If I add back "the enormity of":

a "He tried to belittle the enormity of the accident."
b "He tried to make light of the enormity of the accident."
c "He tried to detract from the enormity of the accident."
d "He tried to take away from the enormity of the accident."

e "He tried to belittle the enormity of her success."
f "He tried to make light of the enormity o
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Hi,

First, please clarify your meaning.

When you say 'the enormity of . . . ', are you talking about 'the huge size of . . . '?

Clive

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