participating (sic!) to

Question

Hi,I am having difficulty with the preposition 'to' in the following sentence:"The following persons also gave their expert advice by participating to some meetings of the Group".(1) Does the sentence actually mean -"The following persons also gave their expert advice to some meetings of the Group (by participating in these meetings)"?(2) Does the original sentence look ... flawless to native speakers? If it does not, could you please improve the wording/style somehow? mus-te

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

MUSCOVITEDoes the original sentence look ... flawless to native speakers?

No. I think it is just a misprint for 'in' or 'at':

The following persons also gave their expert advice by participating in/at some meetings of the Group

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Mister MicawberNo. I think it is just a misprint for 'in' or 'at':

Aha... I see!

Mister MicawberThe following persons also gave their expert advice by participating in/at some meetings of the Group

One follow-up question if I may then.

I just learned (by searching COCA and GLOWBE for the alternative versions "participating in a/the meeting" and "participating at a/the meeting") that the former is used MUCH MORE OFTEN than the latter. The proportion is about 30:1 or so. How can it be explained?

When do you think the version "to participate AT a meeting" may be preferable to using "participate IN a meeting"? None of the dictionaries I have checked answers this question.... Moreover, nearly all major online dictionaries point out that the verb "to participate" is often followed by the preposition "in" ( = to participate in some activities ) but say nothing about other possible prepositions (e.g. at)...

Again, thank you so much!

Mister Micawber · Answer

MUSCOVITE The proportion is about 30:1 or so. How can it be explained?

You are going to find such statistics for innumerable collocations. More people consider themselves 'inside' a meeting rather that 'at' a place, that is all.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Mister MicawberMore people consider themselves 'inside' a meeting rather that 'at' a place, that is all.

Understood!

CalifJim · Answer

MUSCOVITE"to participate AT a meeting" ... "participate IN a meeting"

I would take these as follows:

to participate at a meeting ~ to contribute my thoughts and opinions actively while at the meeting
to participate in a meeting ~ to go to the meeting; to attend the meeting

In the first case the word 'participate' is not exactly the right word (not to my ear, anyway). I would not use 'participate at'. I might use 'contribute', 'offer suggestions', etc. — something more specific than 'participate'.

CJ

MUSCOVITE · Answer

participating (sic!) to

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