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September 27, 2006
Misplaced Modifier; Usage
So I'm waiting at the café for my student doing an independent study on medieval clothing and jewelry* and flipping through the New York Times** science section - interesting article on hysteria! Mouse brains - yum! When I read this sentence:
The project emerged because of Mr. Allen’s desire to make a significant contribution to neuroscience.I mentally tick a us in the margin ("usage"). We (the professorial 'we') use "make a contribution" and "science" to refer to primary researchers, not funders.
The author probably means: The project emerged because of Mr. Allen’s desire to spend his Microsoft loot on neuroscience. That's too colloquial, but he got trapped by euphemism into a usage mistake.
Can you tell I'm in full grading-mode?
*You might remember that I have an developing interest in not just the thinginess of medieval badges (a form of jewelry) but also on their public presentation on clothing (how and when people wore them). The student was on our term in Rome last semester and kept asking my colleague about the jewelry and clothing in medieval and renaissance works - my colleague pointed her in my direction for an independent study. So far, so good!**Did you know that there's a concerted effort to get students to read daily newspapers? I don't know who funds it, but there's a newstand of FREE newspapers in the lobby of the dining hall - Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, USA Today, and New York Times. It works a little - I see students reading papers. I definitely see professors reading papers!
Posted by CrankyProfessor at September 27, 2006 7:11 AM