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#2 (permalink) Thu Jul 14, 2016 9:16 am during then- |
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Or it should read: "...from the FBI then-Director J. Edgar Hoover's (who lasted at the post for five decades) leadership of the bureau.” And 'during' relates to the period of time the story embraces. Anyway, does it make a comprehensible reading for you? |
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Eugene2114 I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Posts: 2998
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#3 (permalink) Thu Jul 14, 2016 10:09 am during then- |
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Yes, the original makes sense. Your alternative doesn't, as if you were to use that version you are saying that the letter came from Hoover's leadership - Hoover's leadership cannot have written a letter.
The original indicates the letter was written by someone in the FBI at the time Hoover was in charge of the organisation.
I don't see how 'during' adds anything to the fact that it was a 50 year leadership at all. It wouldn't matter how long the leadership was. 'during' simply indicates it was within Hoover's leadership.
'then-director J. Edgar Hoover' indicates that Hoover was in office when the letter was written but he is no longer Director.
The only thing the phrase 'then-director' adds is to clarify that Hoover's title at the FBI at the time was that of 'Director'. Otherwise it could be more simply stated: “While the letter is unsigned, a Senate Committee confirmed a decade after it was sent that it had come from the FBI during J. Edgar Hoover's five-decade-long leadership of the bureau." _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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#4 (permalink) Thu Jul 14, 2016 11:50 am during then- |
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Though I don’t think ‘the leadership’ can’t write a letter—they can if they’re given the leeway ;-)—your analysis is superb. That ‘during then-’ and ‘Hoover's five-decade-long leadership’ combo was wheels within wheels to me. Thank you so much. |
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Eugene2114 I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Posts: 2998
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#5 (permalink) Thu Jul 14, 2016 14:41 pm during then- |
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Eugene2114 wrote: | Though I don’t think ‘the leadership’ can’t write a letter—they can if they’re given the leeway ;-) |
You're right - and there might have been a case to be made for that even though it was not the intended meaning if it hadn't been followed by 'of the bureau'.
Perhaps I should have been more precise and said
Hoover's leadership of the Bureau cannot write a letter, even if it can be argued that Hoover's leadership (team) could. ;-) _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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Only you[,] | use of then |