#166810 - 03/14/07 05:37 PM
"Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
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stranger
Registered: 05/01/03
Posts: 12
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I have a dilemma of semantic nature. I would love to
hear everyone's opinions. Read the following sentence:
"Our results could help STING to enhance the strengths
of the program and improve its weaknesses."
Let's focus on this part of the sentence: "improve its weaknesses." In this sense it means 'eliminate/lessen weaknesses'. It DOES NOT mean 'heighten weaknesses'.
1. Do you think the intended meaning of the sentence
comes across adequately?
2. Would you say it is flat out incorrect to use the
above mentioned phrasing?
3. Do you think there is any semantic difference
between "improve its weaknesses" and "improve on/upon
its weaknesses"? If a preposition is added (on/upon),
does that clarify the meaning of the sentence in any
way? Does it REALLY serve anything, or is it just a
'filler'?
A bet is riding on this, so I hope everyone will give
their input regarding this issue.
Thanks!
Heni
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#166814 - 03/14/07 08:12 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: heni79]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/27/02
Posts: 2154
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
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Hi Heni
I understand what is meant quite clearly but I would still call it incorrect. On/upon sounds correct though.
(did I win anything??)
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#166819 - 03/14/07 08:50 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: Zed]
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stranger
Registered: 05/01/03
Posts: 12
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I would still call it incorrect. On/upon sounds correct though. (did I win anything??) But why exactly is it incorrect? And how come it is correct when you add on/upon? Doesn't it have the exact same meaning as before? When I read the two alternatives aloud to myself, they had the same meaning to me. Is it just me? I should point out that I am not a naitive speaker of English. Thanks for responding to my message, BTW! :-) Heni
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#166820 - 03/14/07 08:56 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: sjmaxq]
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stranger
Registered: 05/01/03
Posts: 12
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Would replacing "improve" with "ameliorate" be allowable? I discussed this with a friend (replacing "improve"), and the best alternative that we could come up with was "amend its weaknesses." But if I absolutely want to keep "improve", is the preposition really necessary? Thanks for posting your input! :-) Heni
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#166848 - 03/15/07 12:27 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: tsuwm]
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enthusiast
Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 293
Loc: Orlando
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I agree that "improve its weaknesses" is contrary to the intended meaning.
It would be better to simply state, "reduce its weaknesses".
_________________________
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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#166850 - 03/15/07 12:27 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: heni79]
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addict
Registered: 10/24/05
Posts: 557
Loc: Dallas, TX
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I agree that it is obvious what you mean even though it's not what you say.
IMO, "improve upon" is worse than "improve". As said above, I'd say it almost means we'll come up with new and improved weaknesses.
I'd just change the word - ameliorate is a little obscure, so how about "overcome its weaknesses", "triumph over its weaknesses", etc.
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#166858 - 03/15/07 02:36 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: heni79]
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addict
Registered: 05/17/05
Posts: 456
Loc: SE US
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1. No. It is likely to be understood anyway since a literal interpretation will be dismissed as nonsense [especially by the apologist crowd (They know who they are)  ]. 2. Yes, unless the literal meaning is intended. 3. Yes. "[I]mprove on/upon" at least lends a degree of separation between the verb and object, albeit not as an adequate improvement. Agreed that "improve upon" does sound as if to imply replacement vice adjustment, but it still 'improves upon' the lame construction given.
_________________________
ÅΓª╥┐↕§
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#166868 - 03/15/07 05:03 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: olly]
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stranger
Registered: 05/01/03
Posts: 12
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Are you for it being o.k.? I was for "improve its weaknesses." I also did not understand how there could be any real difference between "improve its weaknesses" and "improve on/upon its weaknesses." If one was bad, so was the other (IMO). I agree with the statements that either construction is weak. The other alternatives for "improve" that you have suggested are much better and on target. I'm really grateful for all the wonderful advice and the comments you have shared with me. Thanks guys!  Heni
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#166869 - 03/15/07 05:31 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: heni79]
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enthusiast
Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 293
Loc: Orlando
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BTW, Heini, Welcome!!!
_________________________
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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#166873 - 03/16/07 12:51 AM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: ParkinT]
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stranger
Registered: 05/01/03
Posts: 12
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Thanks so much! This place is a real gem! :-) BTW, a quick question. Is there any difference between "A case study of companies" and "A case study on companies"? Are both prepositions acceptable? You guys rock!!  Heni
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#166874 - 03/16/07 12:54 AM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: heni79]
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journeyman
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 72
Loc: Land where ne'er-do-wells rule...
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Not sure, 'Of' would indicate a few companies; 'on' would indicate companies in general. That's only if you name examples, though.
By the way, did you notice that the phrase 'not sure' allowed me to spout random advice without corroborating it? A fun thing indeed, that.
_________________________
I exist! I am a pedant! I have a foreboding signature!
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#166898 - 03/16/07 08:19 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: Curuinor]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/27/02
Posts: 2154
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
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In the medical field, my background, a case study is an indepth look at one case, ie. one patient's specific problem, treatment and outcome. You cannot do a case study of arthritis, only of Mr. X who has arthritis. So I would assume that a case study on companies would look at very few specific companies in detail. A case study of companies in general would be an oxymoron.
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#166933 - 03/17/07 03:33 PM
Re: worsen your strength
[Re: Faldage]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 5249
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague
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#166938 - 03/17/07 06:36 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: Zed]
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stranger
Registered: 05/01/03
Posts: 12
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Curuinor and Zed, THANKS for your input!! Heni
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#166952 - 03/18/07 05:06 PM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: BranShea]
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journeyman
Registered: 11/12/06
Posts: 74
Loc: Sandy, Utah
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I tried to understand the positive better by looking for the negative.
Sometimes a contrast in elements serves to heighten the salient points of each. It works in art (and by extension, to philosophy). The Italians had a name for it: chiaroscuro. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro.
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#166975 - 03/19/07 07:34 AM
Re: "Improve its weaknesses" - Right or wrong?
[Re: pennyless]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 5249
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague
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Pennies from Heaven! Yes, you are right. Chiaroscuro  , clair-obscure : Caravaggio, de Ribera. Rembrand and George de la Tour. It started with Caravaggio. I'm a painter (somewhere between a cartoonist and Michelangelo.) (thanks, Etaoin). More on this side of the middle. And an educator still, but retired from the large groups to small private studio groups.
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#167113 - 03/22/07 04:02 PM
Re: worsen your strength
[Re: musick]
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addict
Registered: 05/17/05
Posts: 456
Loc: SE US
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Who *says "weakness" is a bad thing?  When weakness is becoming obsessed with a glamourous club hostess kitty at the space port on Fake World and ending up feeling like a frayed and dejected ball of yarn, it is a bad thing. Just an opinion.
_________________________
ÅΓª╥┐↕§
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#167138 - 03/23/07 01:12 PM
Re: worsen your strength
[Re: Aramis]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/28/00
Posts: 2888
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Aramis...I've no idea what you've just said. [very confused-e]
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worsen your strength [Re: BranShea]
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