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Henry74 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Spanning
Hello everyone,
I seem to understand that spanning can take either a direct or an indirect object. For example (from various sources on COCA),
- In an odyssey spanning 10 years and three continents,...
- [...] spanning from 1910s reflective blue ovals to 1970s smoky squares...
I wasn't aware of the fact that its direct object can also comprise dates, until I read the following:
a) The works, spanning the 13th through 18th centuries, include masterpieces by...
b) Their deadliest period was a 27-hour stretch spanning Oct. 2 and 3,...
I also found a mixed constructions:
c) An exhibition spanning Giorgio Morandi's work from 1913 to 1960.
Are all those standard constructions?
Can I say a) also as The work,spanning form the 13th to the 18th century, include masterpieces by...?
Would it be awkward to say spanning the centuries 13th through 18th?
Thank you for your great help!
H.
I seem to understand that spanning can take either a direct or an indirect object. For example (from various sources on COCA),
- In an odyssey spanning 10 years and three continents,...
- [...] spanning from 1910s reflective blue ovals to 1970s smoky squares...
I wasn't aware of the fact that its direct object can also comprise dates, until I read the following:
a) The works, spanning the 13th through 18th centuries, include masterpieces by...
b) Their deadliest period was a 27-hour stretch spanning Oct. 2 and 3,...
I also found a mixed constructions:
c) An exhibition spanning Giorgio Morandi's work from 1913 to 1960.
Are all those standard constructions?
Can I say a) also as The work,spanning form the 13th to the 18th century, include masterpieces by...?
Would it be awkward to say spanning the centuries 13th through 18th?
Thank you for your great help!
H.
Top answer
Not everything you see in COCA is going to be good English. "To span" is a transitive verb; "spanning from 1910s reflective blue ovals to 1970s smoky squares" is a mistake for both grammatical and semantic reasons. Example c) is borderline sucky.
- Not everything you see in COCA is going to be good English.
- "To span" is a transitive verb; "spanning from 1910s reflective blue ovals to 1970s smoky squares" is a mistake for both grammatical and semantic reasons.
- Example c) is borderline sucky.
- Your version of a) is OK (except it's "works" and "from").
- "Span" in its figurative uses retains much of its literal meaning.
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4 Answers
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Not everything you see in COCA is going to be good English. "To span" is a transitive verb; "spanning from 1910s reflective blue ovals to 1970s smoky squares" is a mistake for both grammatical and semantic reasons. Example c) is borderline sucky.
Your version of a) is OK (except it's "works" and "from"). "Span" in its figurative uses retains much of its literal meaning. Bridges span gaps.
Your version of a) is OK (except it's "works" and "from"). "Span" in its figurative uses retains much of its literal meaning. Bridges span gaps.
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Thank you for your answer enoon. I really appreciate it!
Although I'm not sure I understand the difference between spanning from 1910s reflective blue ovals to 1970s smoky squares, which you rejected, and my version of a), spanning from the 13th to the 18th century, which you accepted.
Aren't those both instances of spanning from_ to_?
Although I'm not sure I understand the difference between spanning from 1910s reflective blue ovals to 1970s smoky squares, which you rejected, and my version of a), spanning from the 13th to the 18th century, which you accepted.
Aren't those both instances of spanning from_ to_?
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For a thing to span something, that something has to have a beginning and end point, and it has to have continuity in between. You couldn't span from ovals to squares even if you could span intransitively.
You are right, you were wrong—and so was I. I made a mistake. I am a big fan of looseness in grammar and syntax, so I let it slip by, but you can't actually span from anything to anyth
You are right, you were wrong—and so was I. I made a mistake. I am a big fan of looseness in grammar and syntax, so I let it slip by, but you can't actually span from anything to anyth
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