Is this sentence grammatically correct?

Question

Me and my friends do not know if this sentence is right, can you please tell me if you know? Thanks a lot!

A number of writers who once greatly lauded the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting censure for their former criticism.

Ben

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
A number of writers who once greatly lauded the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting censure for their former criticism.
Ther's nothing wrong with the grammar, but the meaning is not sound. If they once lauded him, that means they first had praise and not criticism for him.
The sentence would be better written as A number of writers who once greatly lauded the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting censure for their former praise.

Best wishes, Clive

Gezhifu · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you for your time.

I got your point. However, people who write this sentence argue that the word "criticism" can also mean "a neutral comment" (as said in American Heritage Dictionary:"The art, skill, or profession of making discriminating judgments and evaluations, especially of literary or other artistic works. A review or article expressing such judgment and evaluation.") I think they mean that here criticism simply refer to "their former laud". therefore, the logic is also OK.

Do you agree? By the way, the authors of this sentence, like me, are not native speakers.

Thank you so much.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Nice to have you on the forum.

That seems like a very weak argument to me.

The phrase 'substituting censure for their former criticism' clearly requires the two terms to be more direct opposites of each other.
Moreover, how can you recant from neutral criticism?

Best wishes, Clive

Gezhifu · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you. I find this forum very useful and people(to say people, I mostly mean you) very nice.

If "their former criticism" refers to "laud", "substituting censure for their former criticism" equals " substituting censure for their former laud", then the two terms are direct opposites of each other.

For the same reason, you can recant from "criticism", because "laud" is a kind of "criticism".

This sentence is from a real GRE question, and it is NOT logically sound according to ETS, though they did not give any further explanations. They just say this is the right sentence.

"A number of writers who once greatly disparaged the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting approbation for their former criticism."

You see, I have a part time job as a GRE tutor. While I know the sentence above is right, I just can't give clear logical evidence on how the incorrect one is incorrect.

Please help me.

Thanks for your time.

Best wishes, Ben

Clive · Answer

Hi again,
The matter seems to revolve around the meaninig to be understood from the word 'criticism'. Let me quote from my dictionary.
criticism 1a finding fault; censure. 1b a statement expressing this
2a the work of a critic 2b an article, essay, etc. expressing or containing an analytical evaluation of something

A number of writers who once greatly lauded the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting censure for their former criticism.

If "their former criticism" refers to "laud", "substituting censure for their former criticism" equals " substituting censure for their former laud", then the two terms are direct opposites of each other. If you look at it this way, with this meaning of criticism, the sentence is not incorrect. It's just that, as noted in my earlier comments, that's not the most common meaning of the word. If Tom says his boss criticized his work yesterday, my first reaction is not to say 'That's great', but to think 'Oh dear, poor Tom'.

For the same reason, you can recant from "criticism", because "laud" is a kind of "criticism".

This sentence is from a real GRE question, and it is NOT logically sound according to ETS, though they did not give any further explanations. They just say this is the right sentence.

"A number of writers who once greatly disparaged the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting approbation for their former criticism." Here, they are using the negative meaning of criticism. That's the meaning that is most common, and that comes first, as I suggested above, to most people's minds.

My version of a better sentence is
A number of writers who once greatly lauded the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting censure for their former praise."

You see, I have a part time job as a GRE tutor. While I know the sentence above is right, I just can't give clear logical evidence on how the incorrect one is incorrect.

Clive

Clive · Answer

Hi again,
The matter seems to revolve around the meaninig to be understood from the word 'criticism'. Let me quote from my dictionary.
criticism 1a finding fault; censure. 1b a statement expressing this
2a the work of a critic 2b an article, essay, etc. expressing or containing an analytical evaluation of something

A number of writers who once greatly lauded the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting censure for their former criticism.

If "their former criticism" refers to "laud", "substituting censure for their former criticism" equals " substituting censure for their former laud", then the two terms are direct opposites of each other. If you look at it this way, with this meaning of criticism, the sentence is not incorrect. It's just that, as noted in my earlier comments, that's not the most common meaning of the word. If Tom says his boss criticized his work yesterday, my first reaction is not to say 'That's great', but to think 'Oh dear, poor Tom'.

For the same reason, you can recant from "criticism", because "laud" is a kind of "criticism".

This sentence is from a real GRE question, and it is NOT logically sound according to ETS, though they did not give any further explanations. They just say this is the right sentence.

"A number of writers who once greatly disparaged the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting approbation for their former criticism." Here, they are using the negative meaning of criticism. That's the meaning that is most common, and that comes first, as I suggested above, to most people's minds.

My version of a better sentence is
A number of writers who once greatly lauded the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting censure for their former praise."

You see, I have a part time job as a GRE tutor. While I know the sentence above is right, I just can't give clear logical evidence on how the incorrect one is incorrect.

Clive

Gezhifu · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thanks very much for your patience, and I apologize for this belated reply. I've just got back from a holiday.

You have made this matter very clear to me. I fully understand.

Thanks again. You are really a nice guy.

Best wishes!

Ben

Anonymous · Answer

Address has been changed

Address have been changed

Dear sir,

Above the both centense which is correct

Mister Micawber · Answer

.
The address has been changed.
.

Is this sentence grammatically correct?

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