Use From VS Abstain From

Question

My need is for comment on the following using of English language. The statements are presented as propositions within a logical argument:

-- To use from is not to abstain from

-- Y uses from X

-- Y does not abstain from X

1. As stated in the above logical proposition, is it valid to say “use from” is “not to abstain from”?

2. Does the primary premise “To use from is not to abstain from” represent a distortion of language?

As context for the proposition above I offer the following:

-- If your mother told you to abstain from apple pie X because it was very special to her, would she accept it as an honest statement if you explained that since you fractionated apple pie X and only ate fractions from her apple pie X that you have obeyed her and abstained from apple pie X? Would it matter if the neighbor boy did the work for you so you could eat the parts you wanted from the pie?

Any comment you can offer would be most appreciated.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

My need is for comment on the following using of English language. The statements are presented as propositions within a logical argument:

-- To use from is not to abstain from

You need to show clearly that you are comparing two phrases.

I'd write it as

'To use from' is not 'to abstain from'.

As a further comment, I have no idea what 'to use from ' means here.

-- Y uses from X What does this mean?

-- Y does not abstain from X Sounds OK

1. As stated in the above logical proposition, is it valid to say “use from” is “not to abstain from”?

As I said, I don't know what this means.

2. Does the primary premise “To use from is not to abstain from” represent a distortion of language?

As context for the proposition above I offer the following:

-- If your mother told you to abstain from apple pie X because it was very special to her, would she accept it as an honest statement if you explained that since you fractionated apple pie X and only ate fractions from her apple pie X that you have obeyed her and abstained from apple pie X? Would it matter if the neighbor boy did the work for you so you could eat the parts you wanted from the pie? I think this could be written more clearly, but perhaps first you could respond to my commnts above.

We normally slice up an apple pie and eat slices. To talk of fractionating an apple pie sounds rather ludicrous.

Any comment you can offer would be most appreciated.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Clive,

-- Y uses from X

Means Y has employed something from X for a purpose. X can be anything. Y can be anything from X.

That is to say, X is divided into parts A,B,C,D,E,F,G... then Y has either taken or been given (somehow employed) one or more of those elements from X for a purpose.

Regarding the apple pie,

I do not want to poison the well by giving too much information. I am looking for objectivity

Of:

-- If your mother told you to abstain from apple pie X because it was very special to her, would she accept it as an honest statement if you explained that since you fractionated apple pie X and only ate fractions from her apple pie X that you have obeyed her and abstained from apple pie X? Would it matter if the neighbor boy did the work for you so you could eat the parts you wanted from the pie?

Essentially it means that little Johnny has taken something he wanted from momma's apple pie and ate it, but he is telling his mother that because he did not make use of the whole pie that he has, for that reason, obeyed her by abstaining from her pie as she instructed.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I simply don't understand this "use from" usage of yours. It makes no sense to me.

Regardless, in common understanding, if you abstain, you have none of something.

If I have a six pack of beer in front of me and you are to abstain from alcohol, you have violated that condition if you have only one beer from the six pack.

If you suggest that the mother said "Don't eat the pie" and by leaving only one slice and eating the rest he obeyed her (because he didn't eat the whole pie) you might be able to have an argument about that.

This simply doesn't work with the verb "abstain," which means not to have a single bite, a single drop, etc.

Use From VS Abstain From

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