Sentence check vol.17

Question

Hello!Please help me with these sentences: Let’s now take a closer look at several colloquial expressions to do with the body - from head to toe! Here are some of the commonest ones. (shouldn’t it be “some of the most common ones”?) Is a question “What is cyberlanguage” correct or should it be “What is a cyberlanguage”? Fifty years ago everything was obvious: the man provided for the family, and the woman looked after the children (shouldn’t it be: “a man” and “a woman” ?) Their inability to adapt to the ‘new reality’ often leads to conflict, violence and even the disintegration of the family. (shouldn’t it be: “leads to a conflict” ?) It seems that the model in which both partners contribute as much as they can to the family budget, and do what they can to the best of their abilities, is closest to the ideal. (is “do what they can to the best of their abilities” correct? I mean is isn’t “do what you can” almost the same as “to the best of your ability”?) Thank you a lot.

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

Jack.DaltonHello!

Please help me with these sentences:
Here is my few cents worth:
Let’s now take a closer look at several colloquial expressions to do with the body - from head to toe! Here are some of the commonest ones. (shouldn’t it be “some of the most common ones”?) I am not how other English speaking countries would say it, but " most common" is the normal collocation.
Is a question “What is cyberlanguage” correct or should it be “What is a cyberlanguage”?

The logic is, we know what a language is. What is unknwon is Cyber. So while “What is a cyber language" seems illogical, it is not wrong.

That being said, the word "Cyber" didn't come into existence until the full advance of computer and the internet, which have become as much part of our life as micowave since the mid 80,s So if someone decided to return to civilization from his cave where he had spent the last 30 years, he may ask: "what is Cyer language?" if he heard somebody saying it; since he had no clue what it is. With is perspective, 'a' seems unnecessary.

Fifty years ago everything was obvious: the man provided for the family, and the woman looked after the children (shouldn’t it be: “a man” and “a woman” ?) Men provided for the family and women looked after the children.

Their inability to adapt to the ‘new reality’ often leads to conflict, violence and even the disintegration of the family. (shouldn’t it be: “leads to a conflict” ?) No article, but use plural "conflicts" in general terms.

It seems that the model in which both partners contribute as much as they can to the family budget, and do what they can to the best of their abilities, is closest to the ideal. (is “do what they can to the best of their abilities” correct? I mean is isn’t “do what you can” almost the same as “to the best of your ability”?)

Not exactly, If you tell me " be here no later than 9 am tomorrow" and I said " I'll do what I can". I am basically saying, " I 'll try but don't count on it". The tone is non-committing. On the other hand " best of my abilities" expresses an element of effort ".

Thank you a lot.

MalRey · Answer

Let’s now take a closer look at several colloquial expressions to do with the body - from head to toe! Here are some of the commonest ones. (shouldn’t it be “some of the most common ones”?)

I'd say "most common" is better but "commonest" isn't really wrong.

Is a question “What is cyberlanguage” correct or should it be “What is a cyberlanguage”?

Both versions are correct. Articles are often used to signal the reader/listener as to how we are thinking of something. By omitting the article in your example the author is telling you (the reader) that he is thinking of "cyberlanguage" as a kind of concept not as a particular cyberlanguage.

Fifty years ago everything was obvious: the man provided for the family, and the woman looked after the children (shouldn’t it be: “a man” and “a woman” ?)

In this case the author is thinking something like this (even though he doesn't say it) "the man [of the family] ..., and the woman [of the family] ..." Or you could say that the author is thinking of a representative family and not just of any old family, thus the use of the definite article.

Their inability to adapt to the ‘new reality’ often leads to conflict, violence and even the disintegration of the family. (shouldn’t it be: “leads to a conflict” ?)

No. Here also the author is signaling that he is thinking of the concept of "conflict" not of any specific conflict.

It seems that the model in which both partners contribute as much as they can to the family budget, and do what they can to the best of their abilities, is closest to the ideal. (is “do what they can to the best of their abilities” correct? I mean is isn’t “do what you can” almost the same as “to the best of your ability”?)

Yes, it's correct. The author is saying two things, one is that you "do what you can", two is that whatever you do, you do as well as you possibly can.

Sentence check vol.17

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