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Varyagg Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Overflow crowd
Suppose there is a room of capacity 100. There is also a crowd of 120 people trying to get into the room.
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
Do the phrases mean 1) the twenty people that couldn't fit into the room, or 2) all 120 people?
Would such difference in interpretation apply to:
"overflow work"
"an overflow of work"
?
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
Do the phrases mean 1) the twenty people that couldn't fit into the room, or 2) all 120 people?
Would such difference in interpretation apply to:
"overflow work"
"an overflow of work"
?
Top answer
Hi, Suppose there is a room of capacity 100. There is also a crowd of 120 people trying to get into the room. "an overflow crowd" "an overflow of the crowd" Do the phrases mean 1) the twenty people that couldn't fit into the room, or 2) all 120 people?
- Hi, Suppose there is a room of capacity 100.
- There is also a crowd of 120 people trying to get into the room.
- "an overflow crowd" "an overflow of the crowd" Do the phrases mean 1) the twenty people that couldn't fit into the room, or 2) all 120 people?
- Your scenario above tells me that 120 people are in the act of trying to get in the room.
- There isn't an overflow until the room is full.
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9 Answers
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Hi,
Suppose there is a room of capacity 100. There is also a crowd of 120 people trying to get into the room.
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
Do the phrases mean 1) the twenty people that couldn't fit into the room, or 2) all 120 people?
Your scenario above tells me that 120 pe
Suppose there is a room of capacity 100. There is also a crowd of 120 people trying to get into the room.
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
Do the phrases mean 1) the twenty people that couldn't fit into the room, or 2) all 120 people?
Your scenario above tells me that 120 pe
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"In August, the commission decided 4-1 that Mirkarimi committed official misconduct, setting the stage fo
"In August, the commission decided 4-1 that Mirkarimi committed official misconduct, setting the stage fo
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Hi,
I don't like to call another person's writing 'sloppy'. The intended meaning seems clear from this context.
My different interpretation was based on the rather different context that you gave me..
Context is everything!
I don't like to call another person's writing 'sloppy'. The intended meaning seems clear from this context.
My different interpretation was based on the rather different context that you gave me..
Context is everything!
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So,
"an overflow crowd" = the crowd of excess people considered separately from the main crowd
"an overflow of the crowd" = a crowd of people who number exceed some limit
"an overflow crowd" = the crowd of excess people considered separately from the main crowd
"an overflow of the crowd" = a crowd of people who number exceed some limit
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Hi,
So,
"an overflow crowd" = the crowd of excess people considered separately from the main crowd
As I tried to explain, this is not a precise term. The writer used it one way. I used it another.
.
"an overflow of the crowd" = a crowd of people who number exceed some limit
So,
"an overflow crowd" = the crowd of excess people considered separately from the main crowd
As I tried to explain, this is not a precise term. The writer used it one way. I used it another.
.
"an overflow of the crowd" = a crowd of people who number exceed some limit
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Thank you, Clive!
So, these:
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
are ambiguous and best avoided in formal writing?
So, these:
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
are ambiguous and best avoided in formal writing?
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Hi,
So, these:
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
are ambiguous and best avoided in formal writing?
I wouldn't say #2 is ambiguous.
I wouldn't use #1 in eg a college essay.
Clive
So, these:
"an overflow crowd"
"an overflow of the crowd"
are ambiguous and best avoided in formal writing?
I wouldn't say #2 is ambiguous.
I wouldn't use #1 in eg a college essay.
Clive
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Hi,
Would "an over-capacity crowd" be more acceptable?
Yes, if you say eg An over-capacity crowd lined up outside the theatre.
But not if you say eg An over-capacity crowd sat in the theatre.
Would "an over-capacity crowd" be more acceptable?
Yes, if you say eg An over-capacity crowd lined up outside the theatre.
But not if you say eg An over-capacity crowd sat in the theatre.
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