A Parenthetical Puzzle

A Parenthetical Puzzle A Parenthetical Puzzle A Parenthetical Puzzle By Mark Nichol Writers sometimes trip themselves up when they try to introduce a parenthetical element in a sentence without ensuring that the main clause of the sentence remains grammatically coherent. Here’s a troublesome example of this type of error, with a discussion of possible revisions. In the sentence â€Å"Smith was one of, if not the first, female members of the organization,† the writer is attempting to communicate two related ideas too early in the syntactical structure: Smith was one of the first female members of the organization, and she may have been the first female member of the organization. The preceding sentence is a possible revision, but the two thoughts can be expressed more concisely. To untangle the original sentence, revise it so that if the parenthetical element what is positioned between the commas (or a pair of parentheses or dashes) is deleted, what remains stands as a coherent sentence. The sentence without the parenthesis, â€Å"Smith was one of female members of the organization,† is not grammatically sound, because â€Å"the first† is expected to bear the responsibility of serving both points of the sentence. With the parenthesis, â€Å"female members† is expected to apply both to â€Å"one of† and â€Å"the first,† but the phrases are not parallel in structure. How about aligning the two points by using â€Å"the first† in each phrase? â€Å"Smith was one of the first, if not the first, female members of the organization† is closer to correct, but the parenthetical phrase still doesn’t agree with â€Å"female members.† (I’ve also seen constructions like â€Å"Smith was one of the, if not the, first female members of the organization.† The sentence is valid if the parenthesis is deleted, but the full sentence, again, is not parallel in structure.) Let’s try moving the phrase â€Å"female members† before the parenthesis: â€Å"Smith was one of the first female members, if not the first, of the organization.† That’s better, but it still reads awkwardly. How about moving â€Å"of the organization† before the parenthetical, too? (â€Å"Smith was one of the first female members of the organization, if not the first.†) The parenthetical is no longer a parenthetical it’s just a truncated phrase tacked onto the end of the main clause that implies the wording â€Å"if not the first female member of the organization† but the grammatical architecture is now sound. Sometimes, as in this case, a sentence is flawed in form it just won’t support a parenthetical element and must be restructured. This post analyzes three similarly impaired sentences. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating ConjunctionsTop 11 Writing Apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad)Forming the Comparative of One-syllable Adjectives

Chaucers Male Influence in The Wife of Baths Prologue essays

Chaucer's Male Influence in The Wife of Bath's Prologue essays Geoffrey Chaucer demonstrates his skill as a write with his "Wife of Bath's Prologue" in many ways. It is easy to lose ourselves in the character of the Wife of Bath because she is colorful and by reading her prologue, we feel as though we almost know her. Her unique qualities cause her to stand out and her honesty about her personal situation is admirable, among other things. Another critical element of the "Wife of Bath's Prologue" is the fact that a man pens it. This aspect of the tale makes it more enjoyable because such behavior by women was not acceptable during the fifteenth century. Additionally, because a man writes her prologue, we cannot help but consider why he wrote it. This fictional character provides Chaucer an opportunity to address many subjects that may have been taboo in his time. By employing irony and humor, Chaucer is able to make statements about women and how they are treated. It should be noted the Chaucer was indeed seeking to represent a woman's voice. In fact, by creating the Wife of Bath, we can assume he wanted to create a memorable character in her. Women were victims of subjugation in the fifteenth century, and the Wife of Bath would never have been able to speak out about the things she did. Women were especially not expected to speak out about such things as their sex lives and their physical desires. The Wife of Bath provides Chaucer an opportunity to create a character that speaks on behalf of women everywhere. Chaucer takes this opportunity to the extreme by not only creating a female character that is open and honest, but bold and brash as well. It is obvious that Chaucer is working against the stereotypes that existed about women during that time. Chaucer presents the Wife of Bath as a woman who has gained vast experience is the area of marriage. She therefore considers herself an expert on the subject. This first section...

Decision Making Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Decision Making Model - Essay Example The initial step in this model involves identifying the decision to be made since it is vital that one is fully aware and clearly comprehends the decision at hand. The second stage is knowing one's self or undergoing self-assessment. This means that a person should be familiar with his/her skills, interests, values and personal traits as these factors would have substantial effects in making the decision. (Roberts, n.d.) The third step begins with identifying options or exploring alternatives. A person should know the choices available that are in line with the abovementioned factors. The fourth step involves gathering information or researching about what may be the potential consequences of the decisions. This step may entail interviewing other people with regard to their experiences in making the same decisions. One may also read books or surf the internet during this decision-making point. It is important to remember that the more information gathered the easier it is to make the decision. (Roberts, n.d.) The next step entails evaluating the options by identifying the pros and cons of each alternative. This may be done by listing the values affected and needs satisfied by each option as well as the risks involved (Roberts, n.d.). Note that some pros and cons may carry more weight than others. In this regard, it may help to assign grades to these listings to gauge what truly matters to the decision-maker ("Make Decision", 2005). Given the information gathered and analyzed, the sixth step involves selecting one of the options. This process does not end in choosing but with the seventh step that entails the designing and implementing an action plan relative to the decision that has been made. The final stage requires taking the necessary steps to effect the decision. (Roberts, n.d.) I have recently utilized this model in my current job when I was faced with deciding on whether to transfer to another department that was in need of someone with my qualifications. With this, I have instantly identified the decision of whether to grab the opportunity to transfer to another department or stay in the same section. In making this decision, I have assessed my values, skills, interests and characteristics. I have recognized my nursing skills, the value I assign to health and money, and my being sociable that enables me to easily get along with my colleagues and superior. Following these steps, I have proceeded with researching about the job opening. After all, more information would empower me to choose the best option. As such, I interviewed some friends who are assigned to the said department. Based on their experience, being assigned to the section entails longer working hours coupled with late lunches during a number of weekdays when work load is quite heavy. They also cited that the head of the department is somewhat demanding. However, this also means relatively higher take-home pay due to the additional overtime work rendered. After these, I evaluated my options based on the information I have obtained and my personality, values and skills. I listed down the advantages and disadvantages of opting to transfer and staying. I also