“All but” idiom or excluding “but” in this context?
I'm having a bit of trouble with this section of a biology paper:
"LSU was amplified in these species using F63.2 and Mollusc28R2, which amplified all but ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
Does it mean it amplified almost all 400 bases, or every base except for those 400.
Thank you in advance. I don't study Biology though, I'm just translating this article for a friend.
meaning-in-context conjunctions ambiguity
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
I'm having a bit of trouble with this section of a biology paper:
"LSU was amplified in these species using F63.2 and Mollusc28R2, which amplified all but ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
Does it mean it amplified almost all 400 bases, or every base except for those 400.
Thank you in advance. I don't study Biology though, I'm just translating this article for a friend.
meaning-in-context conjunctions ambiguity
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
The latter is correct.
– Ricky
Sep 27 '18 at 21:41
add a comment |
I'm having a bit of trouble with this section of a biology paper:
"LSU was amplified in these species using F63.2 and Mollusc28R2, which amplified all but ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
Does it mean it amplified almost all 400 bases, or every base except for those 400.
Thank you in advance. I don't study Biology though, I'm just translating this article for a friend.
meaning-in-context conjunctions ambiguity
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
I'm having a bit of trouble with this section of a biology paper:
"LSU was amplified in these species using F63.2 and Mollusc28R2, which amplified all but ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
Does it mean it amplified almost all 400 bases, or every base except for those 400.
Thank you in advance. I don't study Biology though, I'm just translating this article for a friend.
meaning-in-context conjunctions ambiguity
meaning-in-context conjunctions ambiguity
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
asked Sep 27 '18 at 21:25
interlop3rinterlop3r
111
111
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
The latter is correct.
– Ricky
Sep 27 '18 at 21:41
add a comment |
1
The latter is correct.
– Ricky
Sep 27 '18 at 21:41
1
1
The latter is correct.
– Ricky
Sep 27 '18 at 21:41
The latter is correct.
– Ricky
Sep 27 '18 at 21:41
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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"But" here is a preposition (not a conjunction) with the definition:
Except; apart from; other than.
‘supply currently exceeds demand in all but the most rural areas’
Oxford Dictionaries
Because it means exactly what it says, it's not an idiom either. Nor is it ambiguous.
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
add a comment |
For clarity on the expression itself:
From Grammarist:
The adverbial phrase all but (no need to hyphenate it) means almost,
nearly, or on the verge of. It signals that the following word is
almost but not quite the case. For example, if I say, I all but ran to
the door, it means I walked very fast to the door but did not run. Or
if I say I’m all but finished making dinner, it means I’m putting the
finishing touches on the meal.
In this case, you could rephrase it (at least in your mind) to read:
"which amplified nearly ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
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active
oldest
votes
"But" here is a preposition (not a conjunction) with the definition:
Except; apart from; other than.
‘supply currently exceeds demand in all but the most rural areas’
Oxford Dictionaries
Because it means exactly what it says, it's not an idiom either. Nor is it ambiguous.
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
add a comment |
"But" here is a preposition (not a conjunction) with the definition:
Except; apart from; other than.
‘supply currently exceeds demand in all but the most rural areas’
Oxford Dictionaries
Because it means exactly what it says, it's not an idiom either. Nor is it ambiguous.
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
add a comment |
"But" here is a preposition (not a conjunction) with the definition:
Except; apart from; other than.
‘supply currently exceeds demand in all but the most rural areas’
Oxford Dictionaries
Because it means exactly what it says, it's not an idiom either. Nor is it ambiguous.
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
"But" here is a preposition (not a conjunction) with the definition:
Except; apart from; other than.
‘supply currently exceeds demand in all but the most rural areas’
Oxford Dictionaries
Because it means exactly what it says, it's not an idiom either. Nor is it ambiguous.
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
answered Sep 27 '18 at 23:56
LaurelLaurel
31.9k660113
31.9k660113
add a comment |
add a comment |
For clarity on the expression itself:
From Grammarist:
The adverbial phrase all but (no need to hyphenate it) means almost,
nearly, or on the verge of. It signals that the following word is
almost but not quite the case. For example, if I say, I all but ran to
the door, it means I walked very fast to the door but did not run. Or
if I say I’m all but finished making dinner, it means I’m putting the
finishing touches on the meal.
In this case, you could rephrase it (at least in your mind) to read:
"which amplified nearly ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
add a comment |
For clarity on the expression itself:
From Grammarist:
The adverbial phrase all but (no need to hyphenate it) means almost,
nearly, or on the verge of. It signals that the following word is
almost but not quite the case. For example, if I say, I all but ran to
the door, it means I walked very fast to the door but did not run. Or
if I say I’m all but finished making dinner, it means I’m putting the
finishing touches on the meal.
In this case, you could rephrase it (at least in your mind) to read:
"which amplified nearly ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
add a comment |
For clarity on the expression itself:
From Grammarist:
The adverbial phrase all but (no need to hyphenate it) means almost,
nearly, or on the verge of. It signals that the following word is
almost but not quite the case. For example, if I say, I all but ran to
the door, it means I walked very fast to the door but did not run. Or
if I say I’m all but finished making dinner, it means I’m putting the
finishing touches on the meal.
In this case, you could rephrase it (at least in your mind) to read:
"which amplified nearly ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
For clarity on the expression itself:
From Grammarist:
The adverbial phrase all but (no need to hyphenate it) means almost,
nearly, or on the verge of. It signals that the following word is
almost but not quite the case. For example, if I say, I all but ran to
the door, it means I walked very fast to the door but did not run. Or
if I say I’m all but finished making dinner, it means I’m putting the
finishing touches on the meal.
In this case, you could rephrase it (at least in your mind) to read:
"which amplified nearly ~400 bases at the 3' end of the gene."
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
answered Dec 27 '18 at 2:08
Balaz2taBalaz2ta
44415
44415
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
The latter is correct.
– Ricky
Sep 27 '18 at 21:41