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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
the most important inventions of/in recent decades
Cellphones are definitely one of the most important inventions of/in recent decades.
Would you use "of" or "in" in the above? If both, are there subtle nuances? Thanks.
Would you use "of" or "in" in the above? If both, are there subtle nuances? Thanks.
Top answer
of
- of
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8 Answers
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Marius HancuofThanks, Marius.
But I still have a lingering question. Why doesn't "in recent decades" work?
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Grammar GeekI think either one works.Thanks, GG.'
Do they mean the same in that context to you?
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IMO, the difference is small, but exists:
Cellphones are definitely one of the most important inventions of (the) recent decades. (They belong to these decades).
Cellphones are definitely one of the most important inventions made in (the)
recent decades. (They were
Cellphones are definitely one of the most important inventions of (the) recent decades. (They belong to these decades).
Cellphones are definitely one of the most important inventions made in (the)
recent decades. (They were
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Yeah, I had the same thought about "belonging to" versus "occurring in" and decided it just didn't matter. It's not like the decades themselves are animate and can claim things as their own. In the end, does it matter?
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