Operate

Question

Hi."Others contend that for a factor to be considered protective, it must operate in the presence of an existing risk factor to reduce the negative impact of the risk factor. "http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?Volume=2&page=558&journalID=21 May I ommit 'operate' here?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

No. If you do that, the listener will ask 'it must do what?'

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

The word "operate" is essential to the meaning in this scientific-type text, so you cannot omit it.  Furthermore, if you did omit it, the sentence would then be ungrammatical.

Soheil1 · Answer

I mean saying:

they must reduce.......

What does operate add to the meaning??

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Please show us how you would rewrite the entire sentence, using 'reduce' instead of 'operate'.
It will make make it easier for us to comment, and perhaps even for you to clarify your thoughts.

Clive

Soheil1 · Answer

"Others contend that for a factor to be considered protective, in the presence of an existing risk factor, it must reduce the negative impact of the risk factor. "

Clive · Answer

Hi,
"Others contend that for a factor to be considered protective, it must operate in the presence of an existing risk factor to reduce the negative impact of the risk factor.

"Others contend that for a factor to be considered protective, in the presence of an existing risk factor, it must reduce the negative impact of the risk factor. "

#2 suggests to me that a protective factor has no other function than to reduce risk.

#1 suggests to me that reducing risk may only be one function of a protective factor.

Having said this, let me add a personal comment. On looking at the way these sentences in your various posts are written, I get the feeling that the writer is less concerned about nuances of meaning than he is about just trying to write sentences that he thinks make his views seem important.

While on the subject of personal remarks, here's another. It would be nice to get a few more pleases and thank yous from you. We are happy to try to help you, but politeness is an important feature of English usage.

Clive

Soheil1 · Answer

Oh!What about this:

"Others contend that for a factor to be considered protective, in the presence of an existing risk factor, it must be able to reducethe negative impact of the risk factor. "

Thanks in advance.

Also I pay you priodical compliments.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

What about this:

"Others contend that for a factor to be considered protective, in the presence of an existing risk factor, it must be able to reducethe negative impact of the risk factor. "

Do you think 'be able to reduce ' is the same as 'reduce'? I don't.

Thanks in advance.

Also I pay you priodical compliments. I'm not asking for compliments. I'm just hoping for a small bit of common politeness. That's all. Compliments and politeness are two very different things.

Clive

Soheil1 · Answer

I didn't say 'be able to reduce' = 'reduce', I asked wether 'operate to reduce' was

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I was replying to your post where you said this. (My red)

Oh!What about this:

"Others contend that for a factor to be considered protective, in the presence of an existing risk factor, it must be able to reducethe negative impact of the risk factor. "

Thanks in advance.

Clive

Operate

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