0
Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
"By using," "By making sure" etc.
Hello.
I copyedit scientific manuscripts, and I often come across sentences such as these (my own examples):
"The splinter can only be removed by using tweezers."
"This is achieved by switching to a different method."
etc.
It seems to me that the use of "using tweezers" and "switching to a different method" is incorrect in these instances (i.e., the construction seems to imply that if the splinters use tweezers, they can be removed). I would normally change them to, for example, "The splinter can only be removed through the use of tweezers," or "One can achieve this by switching to a different method." However, I'm not sure if I'm just being nitpicky, or if there is indeed a grammatical rule being violated here. Can someone shed light on this?
Thanks very much!
I copyedit scientific manuscripts, and I often come across sentences such as these (my own examples):
"The splinter can only be removed by using tweezers."
"This is achieved by switching to a different method."
etc.
It seems to me that the use of "using tweezers" and "switching to a different method" is incorrect in these instances (i.e., the construction seems to imply that if the splinters use tweezers, they can be removed). I would normally change them to, for example, "The splinter can only be removed through the use of tweezers," or "One can achieve this by switching to a different method." However, I'm not sure if I'm just being nitpicky, or if there is indeed a grammatical rule being violated here. Can someone shed light on this?
Thanks very much!
Top answer
' Although 'the splinter' is the subject of the sentence, the verb is passive. This means that the agent of the verb is not the same as the subject of the verb. Since the agent of the verb is implicitly the person who is using the tweezers, the sentence is fine as it stands.
- ' Although 'the splinter' is the subject of the sentence, the verb is passive.
- This means that the agent of the verb is not the same as the subject of the verb.
- Since the agent of the verb is implicitly the person who is using the tweezers, the sentence is fine as it stands.
- MrP
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Hello Guest
1 'The splinter can only be removed by using tweezers.'
Although 'the splinter' is the subject of the sentence, the verb is passive.
This means that the agent of the verb is not the same as the subject of the verb.
Since the agent of the verb is implicitly the person who is using the tweezers, the sentence is fine as it stands.
MrP
1 'The splinter can only be removed by using tweezers.'
Although 'the splinter' is the subject of the sentence, the verb is passive.
This means that the agent of the verb is not the same as the subject of the verb.
Since the agent of the verb is implicitly the person who is using the tweezers, the sentence is fine as it stands.
MrP
00
Dear Mr. Pedantic,
Thank you very much for your response to my query ("by using", "by making sure" etc.). This is of much help to me.
Best regards,
Tracy
Thank you very much for your response to my query ("by using", "by making sure" etc.). This is of much help to me.
Best regards,
Tracy
00
My pleasure, Tracy – and welcome to English Forums!
You must see a lot of passive/impersonal verbs in those scientific documents.
MrP
You must see a lot of passive/impersonal verbs in those scientific documents.
MrP
0
Related Questions