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Taka Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

reference

Most people, if asked to name the greatest invention of humankind,would probably opt for some kind of technological breakthrough on which hinged the material progress of the species: the creation of modern vaccines, jet propulsion, the microprocessor, perhaps the wheel.Whatever the list, language would probably not feature prominently, if at all. And yet, when you think about it, none of these, or any other invention for that matter, would have been possible without language. We take our ability to speak entirely for granted, which is as it should be of course.

What does 'it' refer to? Language? 'The greatest invention of humankind'?
  

Top answer

" It's like, "Come to think of it,". (now that I ponder the matter) Edit . I should say that "come to think of it" may refer to a personal recollection, while "when you think of it" implies that anyone who considered these matters would come to the same conclusion.

— Avangi

  • " It's like, "Come to think of it,".
  • (now that I ponder the matter) Edit .
  • I should say that "come to think of it" may refer to a personal recollection, while "when you think of it" implies that anyone who considered these matters would come to the same conclusion.
  • Come to think of it, I heard someone use that expression just last night.
  • When you think about it, we all make mistakes from time to time.
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4 Answers
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I take "when you think about it" as a fixed expression, meaning "when you think about the subject we're discussing," OR "when you think about what I just said," OR "when you think about what I'm going to say." It's like, "Come to think of it,". (now that I ponder the matter)

Edit. I should say that "come to think of it" may refer to a personal recollection, while "when y
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Avangi...meaning "when you think about the subject we're discussing"
So it would follow that 'it' in that text refers to 'what the greatest invention of humankind is', which itself is not really written in the text, because it's the subject the author is talking about, right? 
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Taka So it would follow that 'it' in that text refers to 'what the greatest invention of humankind is', which itself is not really written in the text, because it's the subject the author is talking about, right?
Right, IMHO.

You might add, "with an eye toward what I'm about to say." That is, you're about to add a new thought, rather than simply re
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OK. Thanks.
AvangiThat is, you're about to add a new thought, rather than simply rehashing what's gone before.

Adding a new thought is already implied in 'when you think about,' I guess.
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