This sentence looks a little wrong to me

Question

"Although e- mails and instant messaging have become the communication of choice for a lot of people nowadays."

Shouldn't it be choice of communcation instead of communication of choice?

The latter just sounds like a wrong usage of phrasing in my opinion.

(But I saw it on here, one of the articles contributed by the forum )

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Dear Chivalry

That is interesting: the phrase you quote has become part of English - maybe only in the last decade..

Potatoes are my vegetable of choice

I like cycling and tennis, but running is my sport of choice

I think it may come from journalism, but it is quite common now

Regards, Dave

Philip · Answer

I'm not sure how long it has been around, but it is extremely common, when "defining" something.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

"Although e- mails and instant messaging have become the communication of choice for a lot of people nowadays."

I don't think anyone has pointed out that this is not a complete sentnce. It is just a subordinate clause.

A complete sentence would be eg

"Although e- mails and instant messaging have become the communication of choice for a lot of people nowadays, some people still prefer writing with pen and paper."

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

I find 2 problems with the sentence as stated. First, specific to your point, I think if 'methods' where added following 'communication', the sentence would read well. Listing 2 ways of communicating with singular communication seems wrong to me.

Yhe bigger problem, I believe, is that it is a sentence fragment. Since a conjunction ('although' ) si used, there needs to be another half to the sentence. For example: 'Althou.....nowadays, I prefer a good, old fashioned phone call.'

The other option is to remove the conjunction. 'E-mails and ...methods of choice.' is a complete sentence. I have a pet peave about Sentence fragments with conjunctions as sentences. If the rules have changed, I'd like to know, but I believe it is simply a developing phenomenon from modern fiction writing tactics.

'The children all went home. But I remained.' would not have passed muster when I was young but is common in today's youth literature.

Vsuresh · Answer

Hi Clive

Can you tell me the difference between sports by choice and choice of sports?

Here I have used sports just as an example.

Suresh

CalifJim · Answer

chivalrythe communication of choice

= the preferred method of communication.

"of choice" simply means "preferred", i.e., what is chosen in preference to all other options.

Typically the reference is not to a single choice of an individual, but to the aggregate choice of very large groups of people.

CJ

Chivalry · Answer

AnonymousI find 2 problems with the sentence as stated. First, specific to your point, I think if 'methods' where added following 'communication', the sentence would read well. Listing 2 ways of communicating with singular communication seems wrong to me.Yhe bigger problem, I believe, is that it is a sentence fragment. Since a conjunction ('although' ) si used, there needs to be another half to the sentence. For example: 'Althou..nowadays, I prefer a good, old fashioned phone call.'The other option is to remove the conjunction. 'E-mails and ...methods of choice.' is a complete sentence. I have a pet peave about Sentence fragments with conjunctions as sentences. If the rules have changed, I'd like to know, but I believe it is simply a developing phenomenon from modern fiction writing tactics.'The children all went home. But I remained.' would not have passed muster when I was young but is common in today's youth literature.

Yes, you're right, that is only a sentence fragment instead of a sentence, sorry that I triggared your "pet peeve" so badly here.

And I agree, "methods" should be added right after that "communication" there to make it sound more sensible.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Can you tell me the difference between sports by choice and choice of sports?

Here I have used sports just as an example.

I like many sports, but running is my sport of choice. It'e the sport I prefer, the one I like best, the one I choose to do the most.

I like many sports, but running is my sport by choice. This is not a common thing to say. It sounds like you mean that no-one forced you to choose running.

Here's a better example.

Q - Did you parents force you to become a lawyer?

A - No, I became a lawyer by choice.

Clive

Chivalry · Answer

CliveHi, Can you tell me the difference between sports by choice and choice of sports?Here I have used sports just as an example. I like many sports, but running is my sport of choice. It'e the sport I prefer, the one I like best, the one I choose to do the most. I like many sports, but running is my sport by choice. This is not a common thing to say. It sounds like you mean that no-one forced you to choose running. Here's a better example.Q - Did you parents force you to become a lawyer?A - No, I became a lawyer by choice. Clive

Will the 2nd sentence make sense itself?

Cuz it doesn't, to me.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I assume you are referring to

I like many sports, but running is my sport by choice.

I already explained that I can find a meaning in it.

Clive

This sentence looks a little wrong to me

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