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MrPernickety Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
Usage of the word "ply"
Hi,
Could you tell me if the following sentence reads well from a native speaker's perspective?
She plies in the programmer's trade with due diligence
Thanks !
Could you tell me if the following sentence reads well from a native speaker's perspective?
She plies in the programmer's trade with due diligence
Thanks !
Top answer
Not to me it doesn't. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've heard anyone use the word "ply" in the last 15 years, so I have no feel for the word. But I do know that "to ply one's trade" is the usual wording, not "to ply in a trade".
- Not to me it doesn't.
- I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've heard anyone use the word "ply" in the last 15 years, so I have no feel for the word.
- But I do know that "to ply one's trade" is the usual wording, not "to ply in a trade".
- CJ
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8 Answers
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Not to me it doesn't. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've heard anyone use the word "ply" in the last 15 years, so I have no feel for the word. But I do know that "to ply one's trade" is the usual wording, not "to ply in a trade".
CJ
CJ
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CalifJimNot to me it doesn't. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've heard anyone use the word "ply" in the last 15 years, so I have no feel for the word. But I do know that "to ply one's trade" is the usual wording, not "to ply in a trade".You don't buy the toilet paper in your home?
CJ
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Wow, I didn't have the slightest that this word was a relic, lol
By the way, do you think that this (amended according to your latest suggestions) sentence sounds natural (I know you have little feel for this word, but I have even less
By the way, do you think that this (amended according to your latest suggestions) sentence sounds natural (I know you have little feel for this word, but I have even less
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No. Don't try to use it. "She plies her trade" might occasionally be used in headlines, but nobody uses it in ordinary conversation.
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All right then, you leave me no choice. I give up on this word 
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hi
no it sounds a bit odd. To ply a trade is the correct formation (the verb can't be used alone in this context).
I would have thought that "She is a diligent programmer" would be better, or if you are highlighting her operation in the trade as diligent rather than her programming then perhaps "She is a programmer and operates with due diligence", although you may need to q
no it sounds a bit odd. To ply a trade is the correct formation (the verb can't be used alone in this context).
I would have thought that "She is a diligent programmer" would be better, or if you are highlighting her operation in the trade as diligent rather than her programming then perhaps "She is a programmer and operates with due diligence", although you may need to q
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Hi,
The word 'operates' in that example is also pretty unnatural.
Best wiushes, Clive
The word 'operates' in that example is also pretty unnatural.
Best wiushes, Clive
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