Is this simple paragraph formal enough?

Question

Would you please help to make this paragraph formal? And does it make sense to say that like this?

"I have found Dr. X book, "NAME OF THE BOOK". Does it help me to understand the method of researches in Dr. X research team?"

Mjcbrown · Accepted Answer

The paragraph is poor English. "Research" is usually singular, "researches" is almost poetical nowadays. Better would be
"I have found Dr. X's book, "NAME OF THE BOOK". Does it help me to understand the method of research in Dr. X research team?"

USF · Answer

Thank you for your reply.

What if I use "acquire" instead of understand? Does it help to make my writing better? What I mean is that by reading books or paper, will I become familiar with their research method or not.

Leah S · Answer

youzou"I have found Dr. X book, "NAME OF THE BOOK". Does it help me to understand the method of researches in Dr. X research team?"

I don't really understand what you mean.

It's the second sentence confusing me. Are you asking someone else if you understand something?

Anyway, I might say: "I have found Dr. X's book, NAME OF THE BOOK. Does it help me understand the method of research by Dr. X's research team?" I would also think about whether to have "research" twice, as the second might be redundant. But I would prefer to understand what I'm talking about!

youzouWhat if I use "acquire" instead of understand?

Probably not? Again, I don't actually understand your question. But if you said, "Does it help me to acquire the method of research by Dr. X research team?" I would find that less natural than understand, because you aren't really acquiring the method itself (to my mind). If you really want to use acquire, you could maybe acquire an understanding of the method.

USF · Answer

Thanks, Leah. You've been always helpful, and I'm always grateful.
Well, a professor asked me to have an appointment with him, to test me if I am suitable for a research position or not. I asked him to give me more information from their researches. Now I am asking if this book, which is the work of their team, helps me to understand what they are doing.

Leah S · Answer

Happy to help if I can.

Okay, that makes more sense. (Context is a magical thing.

)

The sentence still sounds unnatural to me. In my opinion, "Does" sentences like this would be asked of another person, like I have been: "Do you understand? Does this help you?" And of oneself usually like so, as a lead-in, asking the question they're about to answer: "Does this help me? Well, I wondered that too," or something.

What it comes down to is that it's pretty unnatural to ask someone else if you understand something, unless you do not know if you understand it correctly (like people on this website do). In this case, they're not asking so much if they understand as if they misunderstand, thinking they understand but don't. Usually people will know if they understand or if they're completely lost. Does that make sense?

youzouNow I am asking if this book, which is the work of their team, helps me to understand what they are doing.

Here is my take. If you have not read the book already: "Do you think this book will help me [to] understand the research methods used by Dr. X's team?" ([to] doesn't really make a difference.)

If you have read the book already: "Do you think the book should have helped me understand Dr. X's research methods?" (I'm using a few variants of the sentence to give examples of... variants...)

However, I don't think the last question is one you should ask, if that's the case, because it might seem like you missed the lesson, aren't a quick learner, etc. Instead maybe you could say "I didn't learn as much about Dr. X's research as I'd hoped I would." Or something like that.

I could help more if it's the second case once you confirm it. If it's the first, that's the kind of variation I suggest.

USF · Answer

Thank you very very much. I meant the first case. I haven't read it and I am asking if it will help or not. Now, I understand what was my mistake. Thank you again Leah.

Leah S · Answer

Good.

Yes,doesbeing present tense implies that you can't tell if it helps or not. Avoid that.

Is this simple paragraph formal enough?

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