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English 1b3 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
thereby making; making; incidentally making
a. When I told the joke to my partner's parents, I did not mention the rude part of the joke, thereby making the joke a lot shorter
b. When I told the joke to my partner's parents, I did not mention the rude part of the joke, making the joke a lot shorter.
c. When I told the joke to my partner's parents, I did not mention the rude part of the joke, incidentally making the joke a lot shorter.
Do you think a and b focus to equal degrees on the fact that the joke was shorter while c focuses on the fact the rude part of the joke was not mentioned?
b. When I told the joke to my partner's parents, I did not mention the rude part of the joke, making the joke a lot shorter.
c. When I told the joke to my partner's parents, I did not mention the rude part of the joke, incidentally making the joke a lot shorter.
Do you think a and b focus to equal degrees on the fact that the joke was shorter while c focuses on the fact the rude part of the joke was not mentioned?
Top answer
No two utterances are absolutely equivalent, but for all practical purposes, yes: the directness of 'thereby' is offset by its awkwardness.
- No two utterances are absolutely equivalent, but for all practical purposes, yes: the directness of 'thereby' is offset by its awkwardness.
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4 Answers
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No two utterances are absolutely equivalent, but for all practical purposes, yes: the directness of 'thereby' is offset by its awkwardness.
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Mister MicawberNo two utterances are absolutely equivalent, but for all practical purposes, yes: the directness of 'thereby' is offset by its awkwardness.Thanks, MM - why is 'thereby' awkward here?
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It is a very formal—even hyper-formal—in anything but legal contracts and the like.
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Mister MicawberIt is a very formal—even hyper-formal—in anything but legal contracts and the like.I always thought 'thereby' was formal, but never did I consider it hyper-formal. Cheers
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