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I'm reading this page:"https://plus.google.com/photos/116154877604156269757/albums/6141615569858270081/6141615576471924050" I'm wondering about the whole meaning.Can I read the "they" I underlined in this way?"Few people who have time to do..., and the other people rely on ..."Could you tell me, please?

Deadrat · Accepted Answer

I renew my plea for giving the context of the passages quoted in the requests for clarification.

<quote>
Few people have the time or the inclination to compile their own tabulations of the forms employed by good writers and speakers. They can rely upon a good dictionary, which will inform them accurately concerning correct spelling, grammar, and meaning.
</quote>

Ironically, from a book called Good English Self Taught.

The passage has the disadvantage of not only being wrong but of conveying the opposite of what it intends. Lack of time and inclination don't stop most people from compiling their own usage lists. Lack of expertise is the problem.

The usage problem here is that the author hasn't been careful enough to establish the proper antecedent for "They." Grammatically, there are only two choices -- "few people" and "good writers and speakers." But neither choice makes much sense from the context. The audience for GEST doesn't comprise those who are already "good," and the few people are the ones who compile their own reference and so don't need a good dictionary.

Your guess at the meaning is sound. The passage should read, "A few people compile their own reference lists of good form, but this is unnecessary. Others beyond those few may rely on a good dictionary."

Takehisa Tanaka · Answer

I'm sorry for not having quoted the text.
I understood your explanation.
Thanks.

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