Too many 'it,it's'

Question

Hi Everyone,I just read an article online about a rare flower that has opened in Adelaide. It gives off a terrible smell and only opens for 2 days every few years. As I was reading the story, I wondered about the following sentence:'Until you have actually experienced it, it is the first time I've actually smelt it, it's like nothing else.'I know when someone speaks it's a different story. However, what do others think about the amount of - it, it etc. It somehow doesn't look right to me. I know it may sound fine in conversation, but written is a different story. I do think the last bit - it's like nothing else - should be a new sentence.ThanksCC.

GPY · Accepted Answer

Irrespective of the number of "it"s, it is not a coherent sentence. Something like this may have been intended:

When you actually experience it — it's the first time I've actually smelt it — it's like nothing else.

CalifJim · Answer

Cup cakeIt somehow doesn't look right to me.

That's because it isn't right. It reads as if it was written by an easily distracted puppy.

The writer doesn't integrate these three thoughts into a coherent sentence that puts things in the right order, and in fact doesn't even finish the first thought.

Until you have actually experienced it, (you can't even imagine the smell).
It's the first time I've smelt it.
The smell is like nothing else.

Besides, as you say, all those "it"s only make matters worse.

CJ

Cup cake · Answer

Phew...

Glad I'm right on this one. I see a million mistakes in every online paper I read. You know, they really need to proof read before they get published, but then again; that means $$$$.

Thanks for you input GPY and CJ.

Too many 'it,it's'

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