Which sentence makes sense?

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Yh2665  #240896  Wed, 28 Jun 06 03:55 PM

1.  I can own up to my mistakes and give and take without a score card.

2. I can own up to my mistakes without a score card.

Does it mean when you make a mistake, you don't blame on others?  And which sentence above makes sense?  And is there a better way to re-write it?

Thanks

April

  

  
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Inchoateknowledge  #240930  Wed, 28 Jun 06 06:14 PM
To me, both sentences sound incoherent.
'own up to' means to confess, and 'give and take' is a synonym for making allowances for sg.
I own up to my mistakes and give and take and go without a score card.

  
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Grammar Geek  #240931  Wed, 28 Jun 06 06:15 PM

1.  I can own up to my mistakes and give and take without a score card.

This represents two thoughts: That you admit when you're wrong (own up to my mistakes) AND that you can help someone and accept their help (or compromise when sometimes it's not in your favor and sometimes it is - the "give and take") without need to keep track of who "owes" whom the next favor. That means you wouldn't say "The last two times, I did what you want, and now it's your turn" or "hey, the last five times, I gave in to you three of them and it's my turn."

The problem with the sentence is that there's no visual separation between mistakes and give and take.  Usually you don't use a comma to separate something like "I can sing and dance" (not "I can sing, and dance") but in this case the comma would add clarity.

2. I can own up to my mistakes without a score card.

This doesn't make sense. The score card refers to the keeping track of who owes the favor in the give and take, not the number of mistakes.

  
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Barbara, who answers in American English.
Anonymous  #240957  Wed, 28 Jun 06 07:50 PM
I CAN OWN UP TO MY MISTAKES WITHOUT A SCORE CARD.
  
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