Practical jokes, confidence tricks and hoaxes
Good morning.
In the following passage it's not easy to understand what refers to 'practical jokes' and what refers to 'confidence tricks' and 'hoaxes'.
Can you help me to find it out?
Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks or hoaxes
in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke,
rather than being talked into handing over money or other valuables.
Is what follows 'in that' an explanation of what happens with 'confidence tricks' and 'hoaxes'?
Doesn't the explanation sound a bit confused and confusing?
Thanks.
Top answer
"the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke" refers to practical jokes. "being talked into handing over money or other valuables" refers to confidence tricks and hoaxes. In the pattern "X differs from Y in that Z", we expect Z to refer to X if not explicitly stated otherwise.
- "the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke" refers to practical jokes.
- "being talked into handing over money or other valuables" refers to confidence tricks and hoaxes.
- In the pattern "X differs from Y in that Z", we expect Z to refer to X if not explicitly stated otherwise.
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"the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke" refers to practical jokes. "being talked into handing over money or other valuables" refers to confidence tricks and hoaxes.
In the pattern "X differs from Y in that Z", we expect Z to refer to X if not explicitly stated otherwise.
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