This time - can the phrase refer to the past?

Question

Can I say "this time" to actually refer to the past?

I revised the guidelines making them more detailed but more straightforward this time.

Also, do you think my sentence above sounds natural. If not, please improve. Thanks.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

AnonymousCan I say "this time" to actually refer to the past?

I revised the guidelines making them more detailed but more straightforward this time.

The usage is correct, but the sentence order is a bit awkward.

I revised the guidelines, this time making them more detailed, yet more straightforward.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your helpful response. Just a couple of questions below on your suggested sentence

I revised the guidelines, this time making them more detailed, yet more straightforward.

1. What does "yet" mean here? Does it mean "but" or "still"?
2. Would the sentence be also correct if I add "but" after "guidelines"?

WendyW · Answer

I revised the guidelines making them more detailed but more straightforward this time.

The sentence is ok. Another possibility is:

This time I revised the guidelines making them more detailed but more straightforward .

This emphasises this time and is probably more natural because the use of this time tells us that you have changed the guidelines more than once but the other changes didn't make the guidelines more detailed but more straightforward.

Avangi · Answer

AnonymousI revised the guidelines, this time making them more detailed, yet more straightforward.

1. What does "yet" mean here? Does it mean "but" or "still"?
2. Would the sentence be also correct if I add "but" after "guidelines"?

Personally, I wouldn't replace "yet" with either "but" or "still." However, "still" is probably closer than "but."

You're saying that you have changed the guidelines in two ways, A and B.
You're saying that you increased some measure of both "qualities."

You'd use "but," if you treated the two differently - eg, increased one but decreased the other, OR increased/decreased one but not the other.

So why not use "and" ? : making them more detailed and more straightforward .
The reason not to use "and" in my opinion is that one might intuitively expect that making them more detailed (complex) would automatically make them less straightforward, OR making them more straightforward would automatically make them less detailed.
You need a conjunction which puts these worries to rest in the mind of the reader. You want to assure him that you're aware of this possibility, and have been able to achieve the impossible, by meeting both objectives.

"Still" is sort of a negative, like "but," or "nevertheless."
"Yet" has a meaning something like "even while." We've increased A even while increasing B. .
But with "even while," you'd need to repeat the verb:
making them more detailed even while making them more straightforward. .

You can use "but" in a different way, as you suggest, but you'd need to switch to a finite verb:
I revised the guidelines, but this time made them more detailed, yet more straightforward.

In my opinion, you still need the "yet."

If you have changed the guidelines in response to criticism, and are explaining what you have done,
I'd advise against using the "but."

I'd use the "but" only if youinitiated the change, and are explaining the reason for it.

Hope I haven't stuck my nose too deeply into your project. - A.

Edit. I don't read this as indicating a second or third revision. Perhaps I'm wrong.

I revised X, this time making it larger. (This could be the first revision.)

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much for the explanation. You've covered everything I needed to know and I really appreciate it. I would write as you suggested, then.

You've been very helpful. In fact, you were also the one who helped me in my last two threads.

All the best.

WendyW · Answer

Wow Avangi, that's some post!!

I think the original "but" is okay

because it implies there's a perception of a counterposition bewteen more detail and simplification.

Certainly in spoken English this is okay I think:

I'm happy but poor (so true!!) - there's often a perception that it's hard to be happy if you have no money and the "but" references that.

Avangi · Answer

Hi, Wendy,

I see your point, but I don't read this as typical counterposition.
"Happy and poor" has certain aspects of "positive-negative."

The poster's example is a bit special, because both factors are more desirable when increased. (Happy but rich?)

Yet, intuitively (to me, at least), increasing either one decreases the other.

I increased his hourly rate, but I increased his paid vacation time too. (Makes no sense!)

Best regards, - A.

This time - can the phrase refer to the past?

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