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"too low a" vs. "a too low"
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Jaakov
Apr 19, 2016, 8:57:53 PM4/19/16
to
Dear all:
Consider the sentence:
"The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
studies."
Why not
"The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
studies."
?
What is the general rule of the position of "too <adverb> a/an <noun>"
vs. "a too <adverb> <noun>"? Is there a difference between AE and BE or
between formal writing, informal writing and oral English?
Thanks in advance,
Jaakov
PS.
Historically, Webster's dictionary from 1817 says
"Underrate, n. too low a price",
"Undervalue, n. a too low value".
The varying positions of the article are weird.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
Consider the sentence:
"The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
studies."
Why not
"The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
studies."
?
What is the general rule of the position of "too <adverb> a/an <noun>"
vs. "a too <adverb> <noun>"? Is there a difference between AE and BE or
between formal writing, informal writing and oral English?
Thanks in advance,
Jaakov
PS.
Historically, Webster's dictionary from 1817 says
"Underrate, n. too low a price",
"Undervalue, n. a too low value".
The varying positions of the article are weird.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
Dingbat
Apr 19, 2016, 9:10:37 PM4/19/16
to
On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:27:53 AM UTC+5:30, Jaakov wrote:
> Dear all:
>
> Consider the sentence:
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
>
> Why not
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
>
If you want to put "a" first, this is how you can do it:
> Dear all:
>
> Consider the sentence:
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
>
> Why not
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
>
"The existence of a link between depression and a very low level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific studies."
>
> What is the general rule of the position of "too <adverb> a/an <noun>"
> vs. "a too <adverb> <noun>"?
>
Don't know. I don't teach grammar; I use it.
> What is the general rule of the position of "too <adverb> a/an <noun>"
> vs. "a too <adverb> <noun>"?
>
>
> Is there a difference between AE and BE or
> between formal writing, informal writing and oral English?
>
It's "too low a" in all of those.
> Is there a difference between AE and BE or
> between formal writing, informal writing and oral English?
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Jaakov
>
> PS.
> Historically, Webster's dictionary from 1817 says
> "Underrate, n. too low a price",
> "Undervalue, n. a too low value".
> The varying positions of the article are weird.
>
The latter looks weird as per current standards.
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Jaakov
>
> PS.
> Historically, Webster's dictionary from 1817 says
> "Underrate, n. too low a price",
> "Undervalue, n. a too low value".
> The varying positions of the article are weird.
>
Undervalue is a verb now, not a noun.
>
According to this, it was always a verb:
Word Origin and History for undervalue
v.
1590s, "to rate as inferior in value" (to), from under + value (v.). Sense of "to estimate or esteem too low" is recorded from 1610s. Meaning "to rate at too low a monetary value" is attested from 1620s.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/undervalue
Jaakov
Apr 19, 2016, 9:39:15 PM4/19/16
to
On 20.04.2016 03:10, Dingbat wrote:
> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:27:53 AM UTC+5:30, Jaakov wrote:
>> Dear all:
>>
>> Consider the sentence:
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
>> Why not
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
> If you want to put "a" first, this is how you can do it:
> "The existence of a link between depression and a very low level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific studies."
Thanks!
> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:27:53 AM UTC+5:30, Jaakov wrote:
>> Dear all:
>>
>> Consider the sentence:
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
>> Why not
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
> If you want to put "a" first, this is how you can do it:
> "The existence of a link between depression and a very low level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific studies."
>>
>> What is the general rule of the position of "too <adverb> a/an <noun>"
>> vs. "a too <adverb> <noun>"?
>>
> Don't know. I don't teach grammar; I use it.
>>
>> Is there a difference between AE and BE or
>> between formal writing, informal writing and oral English?
>>
> It's "too low a" in all of those.
>>
Fred
Apr 19, 2016, 10:23:37 PM4/19/16
to
On 20/04/2016 1:10 p.m., Dingbat wrote:
> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:27:53 AM UTC+5:30, Jaakov wrote:
>> Dear all:
>>
>> Consider the sentence:
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
>> Why not
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
> If you want to put "a" first, this is how you can do it:
> "The existence of a link between depression and a very low level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific studies."
That changes the meaning. The level could be too low without being a
> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:27:53 AM UTC+5:30, Jaakov wrote:
>> Dear all:
>>
>> Consider the sentence:
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
>> Why not
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
> If you want to put "a" first, this is how you can do it:
> "The existence of a link between depression and a very low level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific studies."
very low level. You could say a level that is too low; or a level too
low in omega ........
Athel Cornish-Bowden
Apr 20, 2016, 4:15:40 AM4/20/16
to
On 2016-04-20 01:10:34 +0000, Dingbat said:
> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:27:53 AM UTC+5:30, Jaakov wrote:
>> Dear all:
>>
>> Consider the sentence:
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
>> Why not
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
> If you want to put "a" first, this is how you can do it:
> "The existence of a link between depression and a very low level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several
> scientific studies."
No: "very low" doesn't mean the same as "too low". "A too low" isn't
> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:27:53 AM UTC+5:30, Jaakov wrote:
>> Dear all:
>>
>> Consider the sentence:
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
>> Why not
>>
>> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
>> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
>> studies."
>>
> If you want to put "a" first, this is how you can do it:
> "The existence of a link between depression and a very low level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several
> scientific studies."
very elegant, but it's common enough in this sort of writing; probably
in a medical paper you'd get "an excessively low", but I wouldn't be
particularly surprised to read the original sentence. Mind you, a
scientist would be more likely to omit the word "scientific", which
would be taken as given. Including it marks the writer as a quack of
some kind.
>>
>> What is the general rule of the position of "too <adverb> a/an <noun>"
>> vs. "a too <adverb> <noun>"?
>>
> Don't know. I don't teach grammar; I use it.
>>
>> Is there a difference between AE and BE or
>> between formal writing, informal writing and oral English?
>>
> It's "too low a" in all of those.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Jaakov
>>
>> PS.
>> Historically, Webster's dictionary from 1817 says
>> "Underrate, n. too low a price",
>> "Undervalue, n. a too low value".
>> The varying positions of the article are weird.
>>
> The latter looks weird as per current standards.
> Undervalue is a verb now, not a noun.
>>
> According to this, it was always a verb:
>
> Word Origin and History for undervalue
> v.
> 1590s, "to rate as inferior in value" (to), from under + value (v.).
> Sense of "to estimate or esteem too low" is recorded from 1610s.
> Meaning "to rate at too low a monetary value" is attested from 1620s.
> http://www.dictionary.com/browse/undervalue
--
>> What is the general rule of the position of "too <adverb> a/an <noun>"
>> vs. "a too <adverb> <noun>"?
>>
> Don't know. I don't teach grammar; I use it.
>>
>> Is there a difference between AE and BE or
>> between formal writing, informal writing and oral English?
>>
> It's "too low a" in all of those.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Jaakov
>>
>> PS.
>> Historically, Webster's dictionary from 1817 says
>> "Underrate, n. too low a price",
>> "Undervalue, n. a too low value".
>> The varying positions of the article are weird.
>>
> The latter looks weird as per current standards.
> Undervalue is a verb now, not a noun.
>>
> According to this, it was always a verb:
>
> Word Origin and History for undervalue
> v.
> 1590s, "to rate as inferior in value" (to), from under + value (v.).
> Sense of "to estimate or esteem too low" is recorded from 1610s.
> Meaning "to rate at too low a monetary value" is attested from 1620s.
> http://www.dictionary.com/browse/undervalue
athel
Stan Brown
Apr 20, 2016, 4:45:27 AM4/20/16
to
On Wed, 20 Apr 2016 02:57:48 +0200, Jaakov wrote:
> Consider the sentence:
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
>
> Why not
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
I'm afraid it's just idiom. Sorry! "A too low level" is
> Consider the sentence:
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and too low a level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
>
> Why not
>
> "The existence of a link between depression and a too low level of
> omega-3 fatty acids in the body has been indicated in several scientific
> studies."
grammatical, but a native speaker wouldn't say it.
I speak AmE, but I believe it's the same in BrE as well.
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://BrownMath.com/
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
"The difference between the /almost right/ word and the
/right/ word is ... the difference between the lightning-bug
and the lightning." --Mark Twain
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