Insect bite

Yes, I get the idea, but be sure to hyphenate self-restraint. I initially thought you were spelling myself as two words.

Thanks, Aspara Gus.

It does make sense? I thought it should be: "I have an insect bite on my arm. Every ounce of my self-restraint is being consumed trying not to scratch." Anyone else think the same? Or is it just me that thinks that

Or I think it should be: "I have an insect bite on my arm. Every ounce of my self restraint is being consumed to not scratch." or even "I have an insect bite on my arm. Every ounce of my self restraint is being consumed to avoid scratching."

AnonymousI thought it should be [no colon] "I have an insect bite on my arm. Every ounce of my self-restraint is being consumed trying not to scratch."

I think the original is OK. Trying doesn’t fit there.

AnonymousOr I think it should be [no colon] "I have an insect bite on my arm. Every ounce of my self-restraint

Aspara GusAnonymousI thought it should be [no colon] "I have an insect bite on my arm. Every ounce of my self-restraint is being consumed trying not to scratch."I think the original is OK.

I really thought trying did fit there. As in "Every ounce of my self-restraint is being consumed [as I am] trying not to scratch."

Well, consumed means used (up) in your sentence, and something that is being used trying to do something does not sound natural to me: Every ounce of my self-restraint is being used trying not to scratch.

Aspara Gussomething that is being used trying to do something does not sound natural to me. What about when people say things like "I used up all my energy trying to reach my target at work." That sounds natural, doesn't it?

Yes, that’s fine.

So maybe "trying" in the first sentence does fit there then?

No, it doesn’t make sense to me. I’d reword it if I wanted to use trying: I am using up all my self-restraint trying not to scratch.