Word inclusion

Hi

I don't think it's optional there. You can use the noun or adjective associated with 'fickle' but, in one case, you need 'of' and in the other you don't

- Because of the fickleness of the blood pressure measurements, we could not operate

- Because of the fickle blood pressure measurements, we could not operate

Dave

dave_anonHiI don't think it's optional there. You can use the noun or adjective associated with 'fickle' but, in one case, you need 'of' and in the other you don't- Because of the fickleness of the blood pressure measurements, we could not operate- Because of the fickle blood pressure measurements, we could not operateDave

Thanks a lot. But I was referring to

fickle / fickleness are rather fey and unsuitable terms to use in a medical or scientific context. I suggest unreliable / unreliability.

Clive

Hi

Oh, I see! In that case, yes, I think I do agree with you - it is possible to take the 'of' away

- These are not the best of conditions

- These are not the best conditions

Both of those are correct and mean the same thing

Dave :-)

Clivefickle / fickleness are rather fey and unsuitable terms to use in a medical or scientific context. I suggest unreliable / unreliability.Clive

Thanks for your input teacher. But with the word 'unreliable' the sentence has to be altered as it does not work by just substituting it with 'fickle'. Right?

Also my original question was on the use of th

... but you cannot always do that

- We've not yet seen the worst of it
- Still, we do it for the good of our friends

In those two sentences, you cannot take the 'of' away

Dave

dave_anon... but you cannot always do that- We've not yet seen the worst of it- Still, we do it for the good of our friendsIn those two sentences, you cannot take the 'of' awayDave

Great that you agree.

And yes, we can't do that always as in the two sentences you wrote above, which sound wrong without it. I guess it depends on context, right?

Yes, I would say there is idiom involved too
The following, for example, don't have the same social meaning

- We are best of friends
- We are best friends

Dave

Is the use of 'of' optional in this sentence.

That was my concern too, given the fickle of blood pressure measurements under the best 'of' conditions.

Sounds optional to me. Do you agree? I agree with Dave.


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The word 'fickle' i

dave_anonYes, I would say there is idiom involved tooThe following, for example, don't have the same social meaning- We are best of friends- We are best friendsDave

I see. And what is the difference in meaning between these two in this case?

Thanks.