Writing Style

Question

Which do you prefer of these three options or do you think they are fine, with a being less lucid but still OK?

a. The other question, to which I suspect you are referring, I agree, I have had more than enough help on.

b. I agree I have had more than enough help on the other question, which I suspect you are referring to.

c. I agree I have had more than enough help on the other question, to which I suspect you are referring.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

C best.

B OK

A no

Clive

English 1b3 · Answer

Hi Clive, I know you don't like analysis, but please bear with me if you can

If you don't feel like wasting your time, then fair enough.

I feel a is correct - just ordered differently. I think this order is not uncommon in speech. I'm no expert, but certainly feel I have a leg to stand on here.

a. The other question, to which I suspect you are referring, I agree, I have had more than enough help on.

First and foremost, would you say 'I agree' is the subject or a parenthetical main clause? I believe you could argue either case.

Would you accept each of these variations?

d. The main problem, I believe, is that you are alone.

e. That you are alone, I believe, is the main problem.

f. That you are along is the main problem, I think

1. In the closet, I think, you will find the demon haunting you at night.

2. You will find the demon haunting you at night in the closet, I think

3. You will find the demon haunting you at night, I think, in the closet.

Cheers

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I know you don't like analysis, but please bear with me if you can If you don't feel like wasting your time, then fair enough.

I feel a is correct - just ordered differently. I think this order is not uncommon in speech. I'm no expert, but certainly feel I have a leg to stand on here. In speech, we often start speaking before we have worked out our sentence, and we kind of make it up as we go along. Indeed, we often don't even finish our sentences.

a. The other question, to which I suspect you are referring, I agree, I have had more than enough help on.

First and foremost, would you say 'I agree' is the subject or a parenthetical main clause? I believe you could argue either case. Yes. That's why I said 'no'. It's unclear, especially when compared to choices (a) and (b).

Would you accept each of these variations? Yes. But note that they have "two parts", apart from the "I believe / I think".
Your version (a) has three parts, apart from 'I agree'. The result is that to my mind it becomes too hard to figure out what you mean, ie to which of the three parts the 'I agree' relates to. What exactly are you agreeing to? I don't clearly know.

d. The main problem, I believe, is that you are alone.

e. That you are alone, I believe, is the main problem.

f. That you are along is the main problem, I think

1. In the closet, I think, you will find the demon haunting you at night.

2. You will find the demon haunting you at night in the closet, I think

3. You will find the demon haunting you at night, I think, in the closet.

Clive

English 1b3 · Answer

CliveFirst and foremost, would you say 'I agree' is the subject or a parenthetical main clause? I believe you could argue either case. Yes. That's why I said 'no'. It's unclear, especially when compared to choices (a) and (b).

What I was trying to say is that 'I agree' could be classified either way; but I don't think that whether it is parenthetical or the main clause changes its meaning.

CliveWhat exactly are you agreeing to? I don't clearly know.

To me, there's only one thing I could be agreeing to, but maybe it is unclear without additional context... I agree that I have had more than enough help on the other question, to which I suspect you are referring.

It is obviously not well written since I had to explain this to you

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