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 #92 (permalink) Sun Jun 08, 2008 23:18 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| MrPedantic wrote: | No; it could only say to one that the deducer is unaware that "complicate" is an adjective.
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Again, we're in that "things can only say what Mr P-astor says they can" territory. |
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Molly
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| #93 (permalink) Sun Jun 08, 2008 23:27 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| Molly wrote: | | MrPedantic wrote: | No; it could only say to one that the deducer is unaware that "complicate" is an adjective.
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Again, we're in that "things can only say what Mr P-astor says they can" territory. |
You're welcome to explain your reasoning.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #94 (permalink) Sun Jun 08, 2008 23:30 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| MrPedantic wrote: | You're welcome to explain your reasoning.
MrP |
The reasoning is clear: don't trust that because you see a few typos in that text you can then state categorically that "complicate" is a typo there. Such deduction is based on air. |
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Molly
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| #95 (permalink) Sun Jun 08, 2008 23:41 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| Molly wrote: | | The reasoning is clear: don't trust that because you see a few typos in that text you can then state categorically that "complicate" is a typo there. Such deduction is based on air. |
On the contrary. I'll make it easier to follow:
| Quote: | 1. Deductive method (you are unaware that "complicate" is an adjective)
• In "complicate pricing mechanism", "complicate" has the function of an adjective.
• "Complicate" is not an adjective.
• "Complicate" is therefore an error.
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Here, points 1 and 2 are assumed to be true. They therefore guarantee that "complicate" is an error.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #96 (permalink) Sun Jun 08, 2008 23:44 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| Quote: | | On the contrary. I'll make it easier to follow: |
Mr P, you're very easy to follow. You ain't no Einstein.
| Quote: | | Here, points 1 and 2 are assumed to be true. |
By whom? |
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Molly
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| #97 (permalink) Sun Jun 08, 2008 23:45 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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By the person who is unaware that "complicate" is an adjective, of course.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #98 (permalink) Sun Jun 08, 2008 23:48 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| MrPedantic wrote: | By the person who is unaware that "complicate" is an adjective, of course.
MrP |
That person isn't you, of course. So, you're saying that "the person who is unaware that "complicate" is an adjective" thinks that the use of "complicate" in that text is an error, but in reality the rest of us cannot guarantee that it's an error until we speak to the writer, right? |
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Molly
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| #99 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 0:03 am complicate vs. complicated |
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| Molly wrote: | So, you're saying that "the person who is unaware that "complicate" is an adjective" thinks that the use of "complicate" in that text is an error,
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Correct.
| Molly wrote: | in reality the rest of us cannot guarantee that it's an error until we speak to the writer, right?
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As I mentioned before:
| MrPedantic wrote: | Thus although "complicate" is not technically impossible in your context (perhaps as a bizarre metaphor), it is inappropriate, in comparison with "complicated" (the "natural" choice; as the advertisers might say).
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Or, in the fuller version:
| MrPedantic wrote: | 2. Inductive method (you are aware that "complicate" is an adjective)
• In "complicate pricing mechanism", "complicate" has the function of an adjective.
• "Complicate" (non-biological adj.) is rare; "complicated" (adj.) is common.
• • The contrast is with a "simple" pricing mechanism.
• • Awareness of "complicate" (non-biological adj.) implies a sophisticated awareness of English usage on the author's part.
• • • There are typos and grammatical errors elsewhere in the text.
• • • The text is not sophisticated.
• "Complicate" is therefore an error for "complicated".
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All the best,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #100 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:13 am complicate vs. complicated |
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| Quote: | | Thus although "complicate" is not technically impossible in your context (perhaps as a bizarre metaphor), it is inappropriate, in comparison with "complicated" (the "natural" choice; as the advertisers might say). |
Hm, let's see...
Mr P has taken us on a journey down the garden path:
It's not the natural choice.
It's a typo because there are other typos in that text.
It may be the right choice for the writer, but if it was he/she should have marked that choice in some way for the readers.
Back to, "I think, it's a typo".
What a runaround. |
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Molly
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| #101 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 23:09 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| Molly wrote: | Mr P has taken us on a journey down the garden path:
It's not the natural choice.
It's a typo because there are other typos in that text.
It may be the right choice for the writer, but if it was he/she should have marked that choice in some way for the readers.
Back to, "I think, it's a typo".
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It's simple enough. To paraphrase:
| Quote: | "Complicated" is the "natural choice" in the original example. It's also the "natural choice" in e.g. the "pricing mechanism" example presented by Molly, where "complicate" is a typo.
(The presence of other typos in the text increases the probability that "complicate" is a typo; moreover, a "good writer" – according to Molly – would have marked an intentional "complicate" in some way.)
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MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #102 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 23:17 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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"Complicated" is the "natural choice" in the original example. It's also the "natural choice" in e.g. the "pricing mechanism" example presented by Molly, where "complicate" is a typo.
(The presence of other typos in the text increases the probability that "complicate" is a typo; moreover, a "good writer" – according to Molly – would have marked an intentional "complicate" in some way.)
You're lost in your own contradictions again, Mr P.
is = categoric
probability = modality
Make your mind up. |
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Molly
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| #103 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 23:20 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| Molly wrote: | "Complicated" is the "natural choice" in the original example. It's also the "natural choice" in e.g. the "pricing mechanism" example presented by Molly, where "complicate" is a typo.
(The presence of other typos in the text increases the probability that "complicate" is a typo; moreover, a "good writer" – according to Molly – would have marked an intentional "complicate" in some way.)
You're lost in your own contradictions again, Mr P. |
Which parts are contradictory, old chap?
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #104 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 23:24 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| Quote: | | Which parts are contradictory, old chap? |
As usual, yours.
All we are left with is Mr P FEELS that "complicate" is a typo in the above text, but Molly is not sure. If you're happy with your TAKE on that, enjoy! Me, I'll go on researching "complicate (adj.). Back soon. |
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Molly
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| #105 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 23:48 pm complicate vs. complicated |
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| Molly wrote: | | Quote: | | Which parts are contradictory, old chap? |
As usual, yours.
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If the text were perfectly proof-read elsewhere, it would diminish the probability that "complicate" is a typo, in that example.
Therefore it isn't a contradiction to say that the presence of typos elsewhere increases the probability.
If all the factors I mentioned earlier are taken into account, that probability is so close to 1 that the word's typo-ness is in effect a certainty.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| "Walking on the footpath" vs "Walking along the footpath" | I've drunk two cups of tea this morning. vs I drank two cups of tea this morning. |
