A Blinkin'  +  245101 Thu, 13 Jul 06 02:15 AM I want to make a good sentence, but I don't know if this has the right meaning: 1. If you are willing to work, being obscure, diligent, and consientious, not asking for compensation, then you'll be a good worker. 2. If you are willing to work, being unknown, diligent, and consientious, not asking for compensation, then you'll be a good worker. In these sentences, what does obscure or unknown mean? Which is better, and why? A Blinkin' Joined on Wed, Dec 21 2005 Junior Member 84

	Grammar Geek  +  245103 Thu, 13 Jul 06 02:23 AM I would think that it means that people above you will never know that you are the source of all the work that was done. Your contribution will not acknowledged, or at least, not to you. A Blinklin', you think people will work without compensation? That would be called "volunteering," not "working." Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,673 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	A Blinkin'  +  245104 Thu, 13 Jul 06 02:39 AM "I would think that it means that people above you will never know that you are the source of all the work that was done. Your contribution will not [be] acknowledged, or at least, not to you." That's right. The general meaning is that the person should work hard without seeking reward, fame, or fortune. So, if the sentence were to use volunteer/work, would "being unknown" or "being obscure" be better and why? A Blinkin'

	Marius Hancu  +  245105 Thu, 13 Jul 06 02:55 AM conscientious being unknown is probably more appropriate for this context obscure has some negative connotations to it Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Negatives

	Grammar Geek  +  245106 Thu, 13 Jul 06 03:24 AM Thank you for fixing my post with the missing "be." I agree with MH that unknown is the better choice, but for a different reason. Something can be physically obscured, because something is in front of it. You can make an obscure reference, meaning that not many people will know it. But usually you don't use "obscure" to describe people. But A, tell me more about this. This doesn't describe a real position, does it? Grammar Geek

	Alan.es  +  245163 Thu, 13 Jul 06 08:08 AM Are words like modest, unassuming or inconspicuous more appropriate than obscure? Maybe: If you are willing to work, unassuming, diligent, and conscientious, not asking for promotion or increases in salary, then you'll be a good worker. In other words a mirror image of Bob Cratchit ! :-O Alan.es Joined on Sun, Apr 16 2006 Full Member 303 Promotions