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ForumUser Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
WANT TO USE THE WORD IF
This is a sentence, or part of a sentence, from one of my favorite books: "… the one last place where a renewed, post-seizure, on-the-diagnostic-upswing if still slightly shaky young gender-dysphoric might yet expect a bit of kindness"
Now I want to focus on the "if still slightly shaky" part. I'd like to use the "if" in a similar fashion. That quote was just the best example I could find.
Now my sentence goes something like "I have this illogical if beneficial long-term unwillingness to spend any money."
It's talking about how my cheapness doesn't make any sense but might be of benefit long-term because, well, then I save the money.
My question would be is there a better phrase I could use than "beneficial long-term" there? I can't think of a better way to say that.
Then also: Does it matter that the writer of my example sentence added in the "if still slightly shaky" to convey something negative while my "if beneficial long-term" adds in something positive? Am I therefore using it wrong?
And one more: Although unconventional, I understand the writer's omission of a comma there. But in my case, I'm leaning towards one. I don't know. What do you think?
And thank you. I appreciate the help.
Now I want to focus on the "if still slightly shaky" part. I'd like to use the "if" in a similar fashion. That quote was just the best example I could find.
Now my sentence goes something like "I have this illogical if beneficial long-term unwillingness to spend any money."
It's talking about how my cheapness doesn't make any sense but might be of benefit long-term because, well, then I save the money.
My question would be is there a better phrase I could use than "beneficial long-term" there? I can't think of a better way to say that.
Then also: Does it matter that the writer of my example sentence added in the "if still slightly shaky" to convey something negative while my "if beneficial long-term" adds in something positive? Am I therefore using it wrong?
And one more: Although unconventional, I understand the writer's omission of a comma there. But in my case, I'm leaning towards one. I don't know. What do you think?
And thank you. I appreciate the help.
Top answer
ForumUser I have this illogical , if beneficial , long-term unwillingness to spend any money. This is the only version that makes sense to me. ForumUser is there a better phrase I could use than "beneficial long-term" there?
- ForumUser I have this illogical , if beneficial , long-term unwillingness to spend any money.
- This is the only version that makes sense to me.
- ForumUser is there a better phrase I could use than "beneficial long-term" there?
- As you see from my punctuation above, I don't think there is the phrase "beneficial long-term" in your sentence.
- It's "illogical, long-term" with "if beneficial" inserted parenthetically.
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1 Answers
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ForumUserI have this illogical, if beneficial, long-term unwillingness to spend any money.This is the only version that makes sense to me.
ForumUseris there a better phrase I could use than "beneficial long-term" there?As you see from my punctuation ab
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