Post Writing Questions Here

<p>Yes. See [Dummy</a> pronoun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dummy_pronoun]Dummy”>Dummy pronoun - Wikipedia).</p>

<p>Silverturtle, you seem to be ignoring the entry in the dictionary for “if” that says “whether.” Merriam-Webster gives the examples “asked if the mail had come” and “I doubt if I’ll pass the course.” Whether this contradicts what you said is debatable, but not referring to it at all may be a little confusing to those that look it up in the dictionary or are convinced it is similar to “whether”</p>

<p>[Writer’s</a> Block - Writing Tips - “Whether” Vs. “If”](<a href=“http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipjun99.htm]Writer’s”>http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipjun99.htm), <a href=“http://www.cambridge.org/elt/commonmistakes/downloads/9780521692472p10-11.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cambridge.org/elt/commonmistakes/downloads/9780521692472p10-11.pdf&lt;/a&gt;, [If</a> You Can’t Decide Whether to Choose “Whether” or “If”–Read This Article](<a href=“http://grammartips.homestead.com/whether.html]If”>If You Can't Decide Whether to Choose "Whether" or "If"--Read This Article), and [Grammar</a> Girl : If Versus Whether :: Quick and Dirty Tips](<a href=“http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/if-versus-whether.aspx]Grammar”>http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/if-versus-whether.aspx) support my distinction.</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/if.html]if/whether[/url”>if / whether | Common Errors in English Usage and More | Washington State University]if/whether[/url</a>] says that “whether” is always preferable in cases of alternatives but that “if” is not necessarily erroneous.</p>

<p>Based on additional research, it sounds as though “if” may be substituted informally for “whether or not” but that “if” may not be substituted for “whether” when there is no implicit “or not.”</p>

<p>Nonetheless, following the guidelines I provided in post #358 will never result in an error.</p>

<p>In a world that the rate of technological and social change accelerates frighteningly, change itself often seems to be the only constant.</p>

<p>The answer is a.
I need an explanation, thx.</p>

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</p>

<p>“in which” should replace “that” (“where” could work also).</p>

<p>One doesn’t say, “I live in a city that people live”; he or she says, “I live in a city that people live in,” “I live in a city in which people live,” or “I live in a city where people live.”</p>

<p>Many eighteenth- and nineteenth- century Romantic poets were believers in rebellion against social conventions, express strong emotion, and the power of imagination.</p>

<p>(A). were believers in rebellion against social conventions, express strong emotion
(B) are believers in rebelling against social conventions, strong emotions being expressed
(C) who believed in rebellion against social conventions, express strong emotion
(D) believed in rebellion against social conventions, to express strong emotions
(E) believed in rebellion against social conventions, the expression of strong emotions</p>

<p>I choose D but the answer is E. I don’t understand:I think the poets wanted to express their emotion and the social conventions must limit expression of strong emotions and the power of imagination. Could you please explain to me?</p>

<p>Another SAT writing question. The assignment is: “Should people make more of an effort to keep some things private?” If I write with a thesis that people should try to keep things private only when they think that the revelation will bring harm and support it with an example of King Richard, who hides his real identity to avoid being killed by his brother, Prince John(novel “Ivanhoe” by Sir Walter Scott) and an example of Frank trying to hide his engagement with Jane to avoid being hampered by his aunt (novel ‘Emma’ by Jane Austen), is it ok?
Thank you so much for your help:D</p>

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<p>Where does it imply that the poets wanted to express emotion? The sentence is listing things that they believe in:</p>

<p>They believe in rebellion against social conventions.
They believe in the expression of strong emotions.
They believe in the power of imagination.</p>

<p>All of the bold phrases are nouns that poets believe in. “to express” is a verb, not a noun.</p>

<p>“The poets believed in X. The poets believe in Y. The poets believe in Z.” = “The poets believed in X, Y, and Z.”</p>

<p>You cannot say they “believe in to express” or “believe to express” because you can only believe in a thing (noun).</p>

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</p>

<p>Yes, that is OK.</p>

<p>The famous filmmaker had a tendency (of changing) his recollections, perhaps out of boredom at having to tell interviewers the same story over and over.<br>
so of changing is just idiomatically wrong? is it because “had a tendency to change” is idiomatically correct or is it because it maintains parallelism with “at having to tell”? thanks!</p>

<p>“tendency of…” is not an idiom. saying something is “idiomatically wrong” doesn’t really help you, does it? It is wrong because it simply doesn’t make sense. </p>

<p>“Tendency” means “direction” or “trend.” It indicates some pattern or movement. You have a movement toward something. The appropriate word is “to” because it has a more abstract meaning. Toward has more to do with physical movement.</p>

<p>Similar phrases:
“desire to change”
“power to change”
“plans to change”</p>

<p>thanks for your explanation crazybandit! i’m afraid i’ll have to bother you (and others here) with another question.
The Empire State Building, the Sears Tower, the Canadian National Tower- each of these structures was the tallest in the world at the time (they were built).
why is (they were built) wrong?</p>

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</p>

<p>“each” is singular; “they” is plural. Use “it” instead.</p>

<p>Whatever the surface appearances at the moment may be, modern men are fundamentally <less tolerant=“” of=“” despots=“” then=“” men=“” old=“”>.

  1. less tolerant of despots than of older men</less></p>

<p>Answer: less tolerant of despots than were men of old.</p>

<p>Why can’t the answer be number 1? tolerant of despots and of older men is a parallel structure isn’t it??</p>

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</p>

<p>Yes, it’s parallel structure; it’s the wrong meaning, however.</p>

<p>It’s far more logical that the sentence intends to convey that men of old were more tolerant of despots than the alternative meaning: choice (1) compares the relative tolerances of modern men toward older men and despots.</p>

<p>1)))The reason first novels are so often their writers’ best work <is that=“” it=“” draws=“” upon=“”> all the experiences of childhood.</is></p>

<p>Answer: is that these first efforts draw upon</p>

<p>isn’t that too redundant?
Why can’t <is because=“” of=“” them=“” drawing=“” upon=“”> or <is their=“” drawing=“” upon=“”> be an answer??</is></is></p>

<p>2)))No one objects to his company, even though he has made insulting remarks about almost every member of the group, <when> he is a remarkably witty man. </when></p>

<p>What should it be instead of when?</p>

<p>3)))<until being=“” widely=“” hunted=“” for=“” its=“”> ivory and blubber in 18th century, walruses were plentiful in the waters of the northeastern united states.</until></p>

<p>Answer: Until they were widely hunted for their</p>

<p>Why can’t it be <before they=“” have=“” been=“” widely=“” hunted=“” for=“” their=“”></before></p>

<p>4)))<that the=“” ancient=“” egyptians=“” actually=“” sailed=“”> to south america remains uncertain, but heyerdahl’s ra II expedition demonstrated that they could have done so.</that></p>

<p>What does <that> do or mean in that sentence?
You can use <whether> in that sentence right? if there’s no “but” afterwords?</whether></that></p>

<p>5)))The exchange between the teacher and the student promotes learning far different from that which results <as> the student listens but does not participate.</as></p>

<p>is “far different from- as” an idiomatic phrase??</p>

<ol>
<li>there’s a rule and it’s when “reason” follows “that”</li>
</ol>

<p>The reason i hate you is that you don’t study properly. </p>

<ol>
<li>“even though” fits well. remove the whole part in between the commas and think what you need now.</li>
</ol>

<p>Post #375 anyone??</p>

<p><for all=“” their=“” talk=“”> about ecology, major companies have so far spend very little to fight pollution. </for></p>

<p>That is correct. </p>

<p>Why is “beside their having talked” wrong?</p>

<p>Mediators were standing by, prepared to intervene in the labor dispute even though both sides had refused earlier offers <for> assistance. </for></p>

<p>What should <for> be replaced with?</for></p>

<p>This question was on last year’s January test:</p>

<p>A sequence of training sessions on the use of the new equipment is scheduled for this coming Tuesday at the technology laboratory.</p>

<p>The “is” is underlined.</p>

<p>A. is
B. are
C. being
D. have been
E. having been</p>

<p>The answer is A, but I don’t see the difference between “is” and “having been”. Can anyone explain?</p>

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</p>

<p>“having been” is a participial phrase; it’s not a conjugated verb and can’t serve as the main verb in a sentence.</p>

<p>“Having been a dancer for six years, she was ready for the competition.”</p>

<p>“ready” is the main verb; “having been” is really just an adjectivial phrase,</p>