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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Would this be insensitive?

Would it be insensitive to say "Christmas has come early for a cancer patient"? The patient is celebrating Christmas early because they might not live until then.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Anonymous Christmas has come early for a cancer patient It actually doesn't convey the meaning you intend. Therefore, it's open to misinterpretation, and so it could be insensitive. As it is, it could imply that the patient has had some positive news regarding their illness, which of course is not the case.

— Teechr

  • Anonymous Christmas has come early for a cancer patient It actually doesn't convey the meaning you intend.
  • Therefore, it's open to misinterpretation, and so it could be insensitive.
  • As it is, it could imply that the patient has had some positive news regarding their illness, which of course is not the case.
  • Try this instead: Christmas is early this year for a cancer patient.
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15 Answers
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AnonymousChristmas has come early for a cancer patient
It actually doesn't convey the meaning you intend. Therefore, it's open to misinterpretation, and so it could be insensitive.
As it is, it could imply that the patient has had some positive news regarding their illness, which of course is not the case.

Try this instead:
Christmas is ear
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Thanks. I thought that might be the case. I can't use more than 6 words. How about "Dying cancer patient having early Christmas" or "Dying cancer patient celebrates Christmas early". It's meant to be a headline:.
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Terminal sounds less abrasive to me than dying.
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AnonymousI can't use more than 6 words.
But you used eight in the original. Emotion: speechless

Tr
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Sorry to teechr. I made a mistake by using 8 words in my original sentence. Thanks for your suggestion, Philip. Teecher, are my last two headlines wrong as such?
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I've just thought of this: "Terminal child to have October Christmas." Would that work?
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AnonymousDying cancer patient having early Christmas.
AnonymousDying cancer patient celebrates Christmas early.
OK, but I agree with philip that "terminal" would be better than "dying" in the above two sentences.
AnonymousTerminal child to have October Christmas.
No, that doesn't work.
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Ok. Thank you. I'll say "Terminal child to have early Christmas".
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It's OK for a heading, I suppose.
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The text actually says "the child is celebrating christmas early at the popular resort" and that "a local business is paying for her trip". Would you take this to mean that the child is celebrating Christmas right now, or that she will be in the future?
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