We shouldn't always trust Google's statistics.

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Jackson6612

#421313 Thu, 20 Sep 07 12:02 AM

Are the following sentences correct?

We shouldn't always trust Google's statistics. Google indexes all the webpages including those written by non-native speakers. I know you are aware of it, I'm saying this as a precautionary measure for some unwary who accidentally stumble onto this page.

Jackson6612

Joined on Wed, Dec 27 2006

Senior Member (3,197)

NOTE: When you reply to my post, please look for mistakes in grammar, syntax or punctuation, and let me know of any suggestions you have. Thank you.

Mister Micawber

#421475 Thu, 20 Sep 07 08:10 AM

We shouldn't always trust Google's statistics. Google indexes all the webpages, including those written by non-native speakers. I know you are aware of this, but I'm saying this as a precautionary measure to help some unwary soul who accidentally stumbles onto this page.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,680)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Jackson6612

#421547 Thu, 20 Sep 07 11:27 AM

Thanks a lot, Mr. Micawber.

Jackson6612

Neeraj Jain

#421572 Thu, 20 Sep 07 12:14 PM

Mister Micawber wrote:

We shouldn't always trust Google's statistics. Google indexes all the webpages, including those written by non-native speakers. I know you are aware of this, but I'm saying this as a precautionary measure to help some unwary soul who accidentally stumbles onto this page.

some should be replaced by "any". What do you say?

Neeraj Jain

Joined on Fri, Sep 7 2007

Regular Member (583)

Smile allows you to win.

Mister Micawber

#421631 Thu, 20 Sep 07 02:21 PM

Actually, 'some' is better than 'any' here, since the writer evidently expects ('a precautionary measure') someone to appear.

Mister Micawber

Feathers

#422155 Fri, 21 Sep 07 07:14 PM

Mister Micawber wrote:

I know you are aware of this, but I'm saying this as a precautionary measure to help some unwary soul who accidentally stumbles onto this page.

Hello MM,

Your correction reminds me of something I ever wanted to know about but was reluctant to ask. May I ask what kind of impression you'd get of the following sentences, assuming that they are used in the same given context?

#1. I know you are aware of this, but I'm saying this as a precautionary measure..

#2. I know you are aware of that, but I'm saying this as a precautionary measure..

#3. I know you are aware of it, but I'm saying this as a precautionary measure..

I just want to know the first impression natives get. (For example... does #3 show that the writer is non-native?)

I'll appreciate any input. Thank you, in advance.

Feathers

Joined on Thu, Jul 6 2006

Full Member (226)

Mister Micawber

#422306 Sat, 22 Sep 07 06:13 AM

All of yours are native and common. I see no practical difference between this and that; I find it a little different, in that it seems to me to refer to less complex referents-- that is why I changed it to this in the original sentence. Compare:

I'm happy, and I find it/this/that unusual.
I went to the circus and met an old friend of mine in the bleachers, and I find this/that serendipitous.

Mister Micawber

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Feathers

#422386 Sat, 22 Sep 07 03:40 PM

Mister Micawber wrote:

All of yours are native and common. I see no practical difference between this and that; I find it a little different, in that it seems to me to refer to less complex referents-- that is why I changed it to this in the original sentence. Compare:

I'm happy, and I find it/this/that unusual.
I went to the circus and met an old friend of mine in the bleachers, and I find this/that serendipitous.

Thank you for your help, MM! I guess I've been using only "it" in those cases, no matter to what I was referring readers, but I noticed that small change from it to this made a fairly big difference. With this, the original sentence flows much better.

I'm glad that the rule is not so complicated Smile [:)]

Have a happy Autumn Equinox Day! Hope you're enjoying cooler weather now Smile [:)]

Feathers

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