Evidently, this form is helpful shown by replies OR by the number of reply

Question

Evidently, this form is helpful shown by replies. Evidently, this form is helpful shown by the number of reply.Which one is better?TIA

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Evidently, this forum is helpful, as shown by the replies. This sentence suggests the contents of the replies show the forum is helpful.

Instead of 'as shown by', you could say, for example, 'judging by', or 'The number of replies shows that ....'

Evidently, this forum is helpful, as shown by the number of replies. This sentence means the number of replies shows the forum is helpful.

So, your sentences have different meanings.

Best wishes, Clive

The-Best · Answer

CliveHi,

Evidently, this forum is helpful, as shown by the replies. This sentence suggests the contents of the replies show the forum is helpful.

Instead of 'as shown by', you could say, for example, 'judging by', or 'The number of replies shows that ....'

Evidently, this forum is helpful, as shown by the number of replies. This sentence means the number of replies shows the forum is helpful.

So, your sentences have different meanings.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive,

Thank you for your explanation. It is clear to me. "The replies" is referring to the content of the replies that I received. Since I didn't note on "the number", I would be referring to the content of the replies that I received.

The second sentence puts my emphasis on "the number" of replies instead of the content of the replies since I didn't say, "the" in front of replies.

Best to you

MrPedantic · Answer

Another option:

Evidently, this forum is helpful, as is shown by the replies.

MrP

The-Best · Answer

Thank you, MrP

Evidently, this forum is helpful, as (it) is shown by the replies.

Evidently, this forum is helpful, as (it) is shown by the number of replies.

(It) is omitted since it is redundant.

Best to You

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello TB

You can take "as" as a pronoun in such structures, standing for "a fact that". Here's the entry from Merriam Webster for pronoun "as":

Main Entry: ³as
Function: pronoun
1 : THAT, WHO, WHICH -- used after same or such<in the same building as my brother> <tears such as angels weep -- John Milton> and chiefly dial. after a substantive not modified by same or such<that kind of fruit as maids call medlars -- Shakespeare>
2 : a fact that <is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent>

Our sentence is meaning #2.

Bye,

MrP

The-Best · Answer

MrPedantic
Hello TB

You can take "as" as a pronoun in such structures, standing for "a fact that". Here's the entry from Merriam Webster for pronoun "as":

Main Entry: ³as
Function: pronoun
1 : THAT, WHO, WHICH -- used after same or such<in the same building as my brother> <tears such as angels weep -- John Milton> and chiefly dial. after a substantive not modified by same or such<that kind of fruit as maids call medlars -- Shakespeare>
2 : a fact that <is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent>

Our sentence is meaning #2.
Bye,

MrP

I was using it as a "Conjunctive", not as a "Pronoune".

For this case, it would be "for the reason that". [A]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

from dictionary.com

AS

conj.

To the same degree or quantity that. Often used as a correlative after so or as: You are as sweet as sugar. The situation is not so bad as you suggest.
In the same manner or way that: Think as I think.
At the same time that; while: slipped on the ice as I ran home.
For the reason that; because: went to bed early, as I was exhausted.
With the result that: He was so foolish as to lie.
Though: Great as the author was, he proved a bad model. Ridiculous as it seems, the tale is true.
In accordance with which or with the way in which: The hotel is quite comfortable as such establishments go. The sun is hot, as everyone knows.
Informal. That: I don't know as I can answer your question.

MrPedantic · Answer

That's an interesting idea. But wouldn't it then need a subject noun or pronoun in the "as" clause?

1. I went to bed early, as I was exhausted.

MrP

The-Best · Answer

MrPedantic
That's an interesting idea. But wouldn't it then need a subject noun or pronoun in the "as" clause?

1. I went to bed early, as I was exhausted.

MrP

Yes, true. In this case, "it" could not be referring to "the forum" since "helpful" can not be a subject.

Thanks

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