Is it necessary 'by' in the following sentence?

Question

Hi teachers,I sometimes start my day by reading the newspaper. Thanks in advance.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

Is by necessary in the following sentence?
No, it's optional.

CB

Surfer · Answer

Hello TS

. Let me take a shot at this:

I believe it is. By omitting by, reading becomes a present participle functioning as adjective for the subject referred to by the pronoun I, thus altering the statement and changing it's meaning so that reading the newspaper is no longer the first thing they do in the morning but is rather their state as they do it. Under this interpretation, the first thing to start a day might be, for example, having a cup of coffee, which they do while reading the newspaper.

The way it originally came in the sentence, reading is a gerund, and the statement means that reading the newspaper is the first thing they do to start their day.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Surfer,

Thanks for your reply.
Then I have to use 'by' in that context. Do you agree with the following?

Here is another example:
I start my day by singing.
I use singing to start my day, to wake myself up. Then I probably do something else.
I start my day singing.
I sing when I wake up; I do it naturally. I don't have a purpose in my mind.
Conclusion:
'I start my day reading the paper' wouldn't be right because reading is not something I wake up doing, or something I do naturally. Right?

TS

Surfer · Answer

Hello TS.

Here's my understanding:

Thinking SpainI start my day by singing.
I use singing to start my day, to wake myself up. Then I probably do something else.

I agree.

Thinking SpainI start my day singing.
I sing when I wake up; I do it naturally. I don't have a purpose in my mind.

Starting a day isn't necessarily associated with waking up. Many wouldn't want to leave the comfort of their warm bed untill it's been an hour, even more, since they first opened their eyes. It's only then that they're able to pull themself together and get out of bed to start their day as they usually do.. .

The way I understand that statement, they're singing when they're, say, taking their morning shower.

Thinking SpainConclusion:'I start my day reading the paper' wouldn't be right because reading is not something I wake up doing~~, or something I do naturally~~. Right?

If we're talking semantics, then I believe yes; a rather delicate, detail-oriented listener would, possibly, conceive each form differently. However, I'm sure most wouldn't even as much as notice it, and whether you include by or not will probably
make no difference to them.

Thank you.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Surfer,
Thanks a lot for you reply. So sorry, I can't read that right now. I'm in a hurry.
Be sure I will in the evening.

TS

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Surfer,
Thanks a lot! That's quite an explanation. Crystal clear! No further questions.

TS

Is it necessary 'by' in the following sentence?

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