Grammar Questions II

Question

Here are some more questions I have about the English language.
1) Is "due to," when used to mean "because of," a usage error? Forexample, "A riot erupted due to the long lines and shortage of tellers."
2) How about when "since" is used to mean "because?" Is that a usageerror also?
3) Is "as well as" a conjunction?
4) "Whatever the surface indications of the moment may be, modern menare basically less tolerant than men of old." Is this correct?
5) "We were unthinkingly familiar with the moguls' immense rough worksas so much weird scenery on long drives." Is this correct, or should it be changed to "We were unthinkingly familiar with the moguls's immsense rough works as we were with so much weird scenery on long drives." instead?
6) "Taxonomy - the branch of biology that describes and classifiesliving creatures - has scope for approximately 1.4 million creatures." Is "scope" used correctly here?
Thanks!

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]5) "We were unthinkingly familiar with the moguls' immense rough works as so much weird scenery on long drives." Is this correct,[/nq]
Yes.
[nq:1]or should it be changed to "We were unthinkingly familiar with the moguls's[/nq]
No, you can't form a plural possessive that way.
[nq:1]immsense[/nq]
Another extra S.
[nq:1]rough works as we were with so much weird scenery...[/nq]
No. This suggests that we were equally familiar with the moguls' works and with some weird scenery. In the original version, when we saw the works, we saw them the way we would see scenery.
[nq:1]6) "Taxonomy - the branch of biology that describes and classifies living creatures - has scope for approximately 1.4 million creatures." Is "scope" used correctly here?[/nq]
Well, it's certainly an unusual way of saying it, but I don't think it's actually wrong.

Mark Brader ...the scariest words of the afternoon: Toronto "Hey, don't worry, I've read all about (Email Removed) doing this sort of thing!" Vernor Vinge

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Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]5) "We were unthinkingly familiar with the moguls' immense rough works as so much weird scenery on long drives." Is this correct,[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes.[/nq]
Except, that is, that I don't know what it means. Perhaps "rough works" translates an expression from another language.
[nq:2]6) "Taxonomy - the branch of biology that describes and ... for approximately 1.4 million creatures." Is "scope" used correctly here?[/nq]
[nq:1]Well, it's certainly an unusual way of saying it, but I don't think it's actually wrong.[/nq]
I think it has to be marked wrong: I'm with Don in taking it to imply that taxonomy can deal with only 1.4 million species; and I think it's so unusual that a native speaker wouldn't use it. How about "...identifies about 1.4 million..." or "...recognizes..."?

Mike.

Usenet · Answer

How about the good old word room
room for 1.4 etc.
Tim

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Here are some more questions I have about the English language. 1) Is "due to," when used to mean "because of," a usage error? For example, "A riot erupted due to the long lines and shortage of tellers."[/nq]
Technically yes, since "due" is an adjective. By making it modify "riot" a correct sentence could be constructed:
(a) The riot was due to the long lines and shortage of tellers. (b) There was a riot due to the long lines and shortage of tellers.
[nq:1]2) How about when "since" is used to mean "because?" Is that a usage error also?[/nq]
The Encarta World English Dictionary implies that there's a subtle difference in shade - apparently "since" leaves the emphasis to rest on the consequence whereas "because" would be used to emphasise the reason. I don't think it's an error as such..
[nq:1]3) Is "as well as" a conjunction?[/nq]
It can be, or at least amount thereto. For example, "Jack dances as well as Jill does" seems OK to me.
[nq:1]5) "We were unthinkingly familiar with the moguls' immense rough works as so much weird scenery on long drives." Is ... unthinkingly familiar with the moguls's immsense rough works as we were with so much weird scenery on long drives." instead?[/nq]
I'd say the latter is better, assuming that's what was meant. The former could otherwise mean "We were unthinkingly familiar with the moguls' immense rough works, as was so much weird scenery on long drives."
[nq:1]6) "Taxonomy - the branch of biology that describes and classifies living creatures - has scope for approximately 1.4 million creatures." Is "scope" used correctly here?[/nq]
Depends on what the statement is supposed to mean.

But as a side question, is "taxonomy" specifically the classification of living things, or the science of classification in general? In my university course we were once asked to produce taxonomies, which were classifications in some domain of the student's choice and which generally took a hierarchical form.
Stewart.

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