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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Plural - Singular
"All colonial countries go through a transitional stage of revolution [that is largely similar with only minor differences]."
I am not sure if the last clause of the sentence works. I am trying to say that all colonial countries go through a transitional stage of revolution, and that these individual processes of transition are similar. As the sentence in quotation marks stand now, however, there is no indicator of plurality at all (i.e. a transitional stage of revolution that IS largely similar......) except in the subject (i.e. all colonial countries). Is this a problem?
I am not sure if the last clause of the sentence works. I am trying to say that all colonial countries go through a transitional stage of revolution, and that these individual processes of transition are similar. As the sentence in quotation marks stand now, however, there is no indicator of plurality at all (i.e. a transitional stage of revolution that IS largely similar......) except in the subject (i.e. all colonial countries). Is this a problem?
Top answer
The main problem is that "largely similar" and "minor differences" are tautological. How about this? All colonial countries go through a transitional stage of revolution, which, when compared each to the other, are largely similar.
- The main problem is that "largely similar" and "minor differences" are tautological.
- How about this?
- All colonial countries go through a transitional stage of revolution, which, when compared each to the other, are largely similar.
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3 Answers
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The main problem is that "largely similar" and "minor differences" are tautological.
How about this?
All colonial countries go through a transitional stage of revolution, which, when compared each to the other, are largely similar.
How about this?
All colonial countries go through a transitional stage of revolution, which, when compared each to the other, are largely similar.
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"All colonial countries go through a similar transitional stage of revolution."
Is this sentence okay? What makes me pause is that the word "similar" is implicitly comparative and yet nowhere in the sentence is it made clear what is being compared to what.
Is this sentence okay? What makes me pause is that the word "similar" is implicitly comparative and yet nowhere in the sentence is it made clear what is being compared to what.
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That's the way I had written it originally, and I think it is fine. The version I wrote later (in the post), emphasizes the comparison and study of the transitional stage. The choice depends on how you want to develop the theme in your essay. Will it be an analysis of this transitional stage, or a discussion of colonial revolutions in general?
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