The importance OF prepositions
Apr. 4th, 2012 03:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
averygoodun42Two headlines to highlight this:
Nic Cage pays the IRS $6 million of what he owes This would imply that he owes more than $6M, and is really, really negligent. However, when reading the first line of the article, they say that the $6M is all he owed, and stands free and clear for the next year. I suppose this isn't really a preposition issue as a structural issue, but the "of," to my mind, puts the emphasis on the implication of more, rather than the amount he already paid.
Michelle Obama appears 'Biggest Loser' to fight obesity: This implies that Mrs. Obama is the biggest loser, rather than appearing on that show. There's a huge, enormous difference, and no pun is intended.
It's simple enough. There really is no excuse for these misuses. Sure, we're American and Americans play fast and loose with prepositions allof the time. But, usually that's only when they don't affect the MEANING OF THE SENTENCE!
Ahem.
Sorry. Bad day refuses to get better. (You'd think a behavior specialist would know how to actually communicate (hint: repeating the same phrases in exactly the same way three times is not a good example of how to do so)? Or at least know how to listen? OMFG, people! Maybe Bigger City isn't too far to go for Page's schooling...)
Anyway. Need to go be a parent. Joyousness will ensue, I'm sure.
Nic Cage pays the IRS $6 million of what he owes This would imply that he owes more than $6M, and is really, really negligent. However, when reading the first line of the article, they say that the $6M is all he owed, and stands free and clear for the next year. I suppose this isn't really a preposition issue as a structural issue, but the "of," to my mind, puts the emphasis on the implication of more, rather than the amount he already paid.
Michelle Obama appears 'Biggest Loser' to fight obesity: This implies that Mrs. Obama is the biggest loser, rather than appearing on that show. There's a huge, enormous difference, and no pun is intended.
It's simple enough. There really is no excuse for these misuses. Sure, we're American and Americans play fast and loose with prepositions all
Ahem.
Sorry. Bad day refuses to get better. (You'd think a behavior specialist would know how to actually communicate (hint: repeating the same phrases in exactly the same way three times is not a good example of how to do so)? Or at least know how to listen? OMFG, people! Maybe Bigger City isn't too far to go for Page's schooling...)
Anyway. Need to go be a parent. Joyousness will ensue, I'm sure.
