Modifier placement

Question

Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find precisely the area where they were born.Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find the area precisely where they were born.Is one of the above sentences better than the other? If so, why? Is either sentence grammatically incorrect in any way? Thanks.

Canadian45 · Accepted Answer

Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find ~~precisely~~ the (precise)(exact) area where they were born.

"precisely" doesn't work there.
"exact" sounds better to me than "precise" does.

RandomGuy · Answer

canadian45"precisely" doesn't work there.
"exact" sounds better to me than "precise" does.

What about area where?

Canadian45 · Answer

Aspara GusWhat about area where?

That 'redundancy' did catch my attention, but I let it pass. Surprisingly, it felt a bit odd without "where".
Without "where", I wanted to add 'in' at the end. So after all that, I just left that part as it was.

RandomGuy · Answer

I knew that was one of your peeves, but I don’t think it’s completely redundant. Actually, it serves as a sort of complement, because the area they were born would be wrong. It’s different from reason why in that why is always dispensable.

However, I still prefer the area they were born in or the area in which they were born.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, canadian45. I like your suggestions.
But from a purely grammatical standpoint, I'm still wondering why "precisely" doesn't work when placed after "find."
I think it is grammatically OK (although it does sound a bit awkward) because it's modifying the verb "find," isn't it?

I also failed to mention in my first post that I can't take the liberty to change the wording of the sentence in question (the one you've reproduced in your reply) unless it is absolutely necessary, on grounds of there being something indisputably grammatically wrong with it.

Any further input would be most appreciated.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Aspara Gus. I sincerely appreciate your comments as well.
The tone of the document I'm editing is colloquial. So I believe "where" is fine, albeit a bit redundant.

RandomGuy · Answer

AnonymousI believe "where" is fine

I agree.

Canadian45 · Answer

AnonymousBut from a purely grammatical standpoint, I'm still wondering why "precisely" doesn't work when placed after "find."
I think it is grammatically OK (although it does sound a bit awkward) because it's modifying the verb "find," isn't it?

"Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find precisely the area where they were born."

If you really want to use "precisely", I think it should come before "find".
But I would not use "precisely" at all. It just sounds very awkward there, especially after "find". One can make the case that that is a grammatical error. I would say 'find the (exact)(precise) area'.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks again for your feedback, canadian45. I've enjoyed this discussion.
Personally, I believe one could argue that placing "precisely" before "find" is syntactically -- and grammatically -- improper. Placing it after the verb it's modifying is, I think, possibly a regional dialectical convention.

Take this example for instance:
a) I feelprecisely the same way you do.
b) I feel the exact same way you do.

The similarity seems apparent when you compare the above sentences to the sentence(s) in question:
a) Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find precisely the area where they were born.
b) Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find the exact area where they were born.

I believe neither variation is wrong in these two sets of sentences. It's just a matter of preference.

I genuinely appreciate your difference of opinion; it's so important to weigh all options. But I'm curious as to what the case would be, exactly, in making the argument that it is in fact grammatically incorrect to place "precisely" after "find" in the original sentence.

Very best to you.

Canadian45 · Answer

according to my ear.....
a) Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find precisely the area where they were born. "precisely" seems to be modifying "the area".
"b) Approximately 70 to 80 percent of wild adults find the (precise)(exact) area where they were born.

As you know, the placement of adverbs in relation to the verbs they modify is often quite flexible. But that is not always true.
I am only repeating what I said before, so I don't think I have anything more to offer.

Modifier placement

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