What determines how much of a repetition can be omitted for shortening?
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Given two sentences with the same subject, we can merge them into one.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
However, part of the predicate is also similar, so you can simplify further. However, it is uncertain to me how to handle the grammatical number of the word ‘ability’ after the simplification, keeping in mind we want it to remain clear that there are two distinct abilities & not two manifestations emerging from the difference of a single trait or ability.
I feel that omitting all of the repeated predicate splits the second infinitive & conflicts with the general intention, in the sense that it sounds like a single, albeit complex, ability.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater.
Alternatively, including the ‘to’ makes mention of both abilities, but refers to them as a singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and to capture rainwater.
There is, I think, an argument to be made in favour of the latter. Namely, one could argue that there is a tacit “[in] their ability” before the second infinitive, & thusly both remain singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and [in their ability] to capture rainwater.
I am, however, still unsure how to go about this phrase. And, in a more general sense, I was wondering if there is a rule of thumb or something to be more confident hence.
phrase-requests parallelism conjunction-reduction
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
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add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Given two sentences with the same subject, we can merge them into one.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
However, part of the predicate is also similar, so you can simplify further. However, it is uncertain to me how to handle the grammatical number of the word ‘ability’ after the simplification, keeping in mind we want it to remain clear that there are two distinct abilities & not two manifestations emerging from the difference of a single trait or ability.
I feel that omitting all of the repeated predicate splits the second infinitive & conflicts with the general intention, in the sense that it sounds like a single, albeit complex, ability.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater.
Alternatively, including the ‘to’ makes mention of both abilities, but refers to them as a singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and to capture rainwater.
There is, I think, an argument to be made in favour of the latter. Namely, one could argue that there is a tacit “[in] their ability” before the second infinitive, & thusly both remain singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and [in their ability] to capture rainwater.
I am, however, still unsure how to go about this phrase. And, in a more general sense, I was wondering if there is a rule of thumb or something to be more confident hence.
phrase-requests parallelism conjunction-reduction
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
61
New contributor
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I my view, the best is the shortest. The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater works fine. I would suggest you use capacity instead of ability, though.
– ralph.m
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Given two sentences with the same subject, we can merge them into one.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
However, part of the predicate is also similar, so you can simplify further. However, it is uncertain to me how to handle the grammatical number of the word ‘ability’ after the simplification, keeping in mind we want it to remain clear that there are two distinct abilities & not two manifestations emerging from the difference of a single trait or ability.
I feel that omitting all of the repeated predicate splits the second infinitive & conflicts with the general intention, in the sense that it sounds like a single, albeit complex, ability.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater.
Alternatively, including the ‘to’ makes mention of both abilities, but refers to them as a singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and to capture rainwater.
There is, I think, an argument to be made in favour of the latter. Namely, one could argue that there is a tacit “[in] their ability” before the second infinitive, & thusly both remain singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and [in their ability] to capture rainwater.
I am, however, still unsure how to go about this phrase. And, in a more general sense, I was wondering if there is a rule of thumb or something to be more confident hence.
phrase-requests parallelism conjunction-reduction
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
61
New contributor
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Given two sentences with the same subject, we can merge them into one.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and differ in their ability to capture rainwater.
However, part of the predicate is also similar, so you can simplify further. However, it is uncertain to me how to handle the grammatical number of the word ‘ability’ after the simplification, keeping in mind we want it to remain clear that there are two distinct abilities & not two manifestations emerging from the difference of a single trait or ability.
I feel that omitting all of the repeated predicate splits the second infinitive & conflicts with the general intention, in the sense that it sounds like a single, albeit complex, ability.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater.
Alternatively, including the ‘to’ makes mention of both abilities, but refers to them as a singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and to capture rainwater.
There is, I think, an argument to be made in favour of the latter. Namely, one could argue that there is a tacit “[in] their ability” before the second infinitive, & thusly both remain singular.
The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and [in their ability] to capture rainwater.
I am, however, still unsure how to go about this phrase. And, in a more general sense, I was wondering if there is a rule of thumb or something to be more confident hence.
phrase-requests parallelism conjunction-reduction
phrase-requests parallelism conjunction-reduction
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
61
New contributor
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
61
New contributor
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
61
New contributor
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
61
asked 1 hour ago
Shiro Rorek
61
61
New contributor
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I my view, the best is the shortest. The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater works fine. I would suggest you use capacity instead of ability, though.
– ralph.m
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I my view, the best is the shortest. The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater works fine. I would suggest you use capacity instead of ability, though.
– ralph.m
1 hour ago
I my view, the best is the shortest. The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater works fine. I would suggest you use capacity instead of ability, though.
– ralph.m
1 hour ago
I my view, the best is the shortest. The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater works fine. I would suggest you use capacity instead of ability, though.
– ralph.m
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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Shiro Rorek is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Shiro Rorek is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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I my view, the best is the shortest. The rooftop designs differ in their ability to keep buildings cool and capture rainwater works fine. I would suggest you use capacity instead of ability, though.
– ralph.m
1 hour ago