The comparison using a single “not”
Today I'd like to present my question about the passablity of what I'll post below.
Just as I talked with my american friends(I am Japanese) on discord, a certain person said to me;
Are romantic relationships more abnormal than not for Japanese in their 20s?
The context is to mock Japanese low birthrate and low marriage rate.
Anyway, I got a bit confused because by him using a single "not", I couldn't tell what he really meant.
With "not", we can associate the sentence with two senses or more; "not romantic relationship" or "not abnormal".
According to the speaker, it means the latter.
Thus I think that "more/less X than not" means "more/less X than not X".
The idiom, "More often than not", "More likely than not" can be interpreted through this structure.
Do you think this structure has common passablity?; That is, can I adapt this as I please, like "more brilliant than not", "more famous than not", "more easy than not".
I think this structure can be better off if it is used in question sentences.
Any thought?
grammar meaning-in-context usage adverbs comparison
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 12 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 |
Today I'd like to present my question about the passablity of what I'll post below.
Just as I talked with my american friends(I am Japanese) on discord, a certain person said to me;
Are romantic relationships more abnormal than not for Japanese in their 20s?
The context is to mock Japanese low birthrate and low marriage rate.
Anyway, I got a bit confused because by him using a single "not", I couldn't tell what he really meant.
With "not", we can associate the sentence with two senses or more; "not romantic relationship" or "not abnormal".
According to the speaker, it means the latter.
Thus I think that "more/less X than not" means "more/less X than not X".
The idiom, "More often than not", "More likely than not" can be interpreted through this structure.
Do you think this structure has common passablity?; That is, can I adapt this as I please, like "more brilliant than not", "more famous than not", "more easy than not".
I think this structure can be better off if it is used in question sentences.
Any thought?
grammar meaning-in-context usage adverbs comparison
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 12 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
The idiom is "more X than not (X)".
– Hot Licks
Jan 2 at 2:49
I can't recall ever having heard this structure used other than in the stock phrases "more often than not" and "more likely than not." The examples that you give with abnormal, brilliant, famous and easy all sound odd to my ear.
– Al Maki
Jan 2 at 3:52
add a comment |
Today I'd like to present my question about the passablity of what I'll post below.
Just as I talked with my american friends(I am Japanese) on discord, a certain person said to me;
Are romantic relationships more abnormal than not for Japanese in their 20s?
The context is to mock Japanese low birthrate and low marriage rate.
Anyway, I got a bit confused because by him using a single "not", I couldn't tell what he really meant.
With "not", we can associate the sentence with two senses or more; "not romantic relationship" or "not abnormal".
According to the speaker, it means the latter.
Thus I think that "more/less X than not" means "more/less X than not X".
The idiom, "More often than not", "More likely than not" can be interpreted through this structure.
Do you think this structure has common passablity?; That is, can I adapt this as I please, like "more brilliant than not", "more famous than not", "more easy than not".
I think this structure can be better off if it is used in question sentences.
Any thought?
grammar meaning-in-context usage adverbs comparison
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
Today I'd like to present my question about the passablity of what I'll post below.
Just as I talked with my american friends(I am Japanese) on discord, a certain person said to me;
Are romantic relationships more abnormal than not for Japanese in their 20s?
The context is to mock Japanese low birthrate and low marriage rate.
Anyway, I got a bit confused because by him using a single "not", I couldn't tell what he really meant.
With "not", we can associate the sentence with two senses or more; "not romantic relationship" or "not abnormal".
According to the speaker, it means the latter.
Thus I think that "more/less X than not" means "more/less X than not X".
The idiom, "More often than not", "More likely than not" can be interpreted through this structure.
Do you think this structure has common passablity?; That is, can I adapt this as I please, like "more brilliant than not", "more famous than not", "more easy than not".
I think this structure can be better off if it is used in question sentences.
Any thought?
grammar meaning-in-context usage adverbs comparison
grammar meaning-in-context usage adverbs comparison
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
edited Jan 2 at 2:41
gorudo
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
asked Dec 1 '18 at 7:42
gorudogorudo
163
163
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 12 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♦ 12 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
The idiom is "more X than not (X)".
– Hot Licks
Jan 2 at 2:49
I can't recall ever having heard this structure used other than in the stock phrases "more often than not" and "more likely than not." The examples that you give with abnormal, brilliant, famous and easy all sound odd to my ear.
– Al Maki
Jan 2 at 3:52
add a comment |
The idiom is "more X than not (X)".
– Hot Licks
Jan 2 at 2:49
I can't recall ever having heard this structure used other than in the stock phrases "more often than not" and "more likely than not." The examples that you give with abnormal, brilliant, famous and easy all sound odd to my ear.
– Al Maki
Jan 2 at 3:52
The idiom is "more X than not (X)".
– Hot Licks
Jan 2 at 2:49
The idiom is "more X than not (X)".
– Hot Licks
Jan 2 at 2:49
I can't recall ever having heard this structure used other than in the stock phrases "more often than not" and "more likely than not." The examples that you give with abnormal, brilliant, famous and easy all sound odd to my ear.
– Al Maki
Jan 2 at 3:52
I can't recall ever having heard this structure used other than in the stock phrases "more often than not" and "more likely than not." The examples that you give with abnormal, brilliant, famous and easy all sound odd to my ear.
– Al Maki
Jan 2 at 3:52
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
It clearly does mean more abnormal than not abnormal - and it is certainly idiomatic English.
However I personally would not have used it in that type of context, because it sounds rather absurd to say someone is more abnormal than they are not abnormal. And it is similar with "more brilliant/famous/easy than not".
These are "gradable" adjectives, which are possessed by their subjects in varying degrees. And "more xxxx than not" is not a very descriptive way of explaining degree.
More aptly one could say that someone was "not very romantic", "above/below average in their romantic inclination" or express it in 101 other different ways.
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
Thank you for your cooperation. "Descriptive way of explaining degree" Well, I think that this structure functions as an indicator of the entity of the subject's attribute which is described through adjective; That is, it wants to say "A is X, rather than not X.", therefore the emphasis is put on "the existence" of the attribute, not its relative degree. "X is more abnormal than not" can be interpreted as "X is abnormal, and one doesn't know how much, but anyway X is so." Thus it is too strong to say the use of this is absurd. Could you please tell me your, and others', opinions.
– gorudo
Dec 1 '18 at 10:57
add a comment |
Yeah, it's a neat shortcut for saying "51% or more X". And like the other answer states, the sentence you quote is a bit tortured - it's not the clearest writing. One reason is because of the "double negative", something we try to avoid. I had to pause for a moment to figure out what its author meant. And yes, also, it's sometimes said in an ironic way. Although, "more often than not" is just fine and common. It's a longer way of talking, so it goes well with a beer in one hand and a pool cue in the other.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
It clearly does mean more abnormal than not abnormal - and it is certainly idiomatic English.
However I personally would not have used it in that type of context, because it sounds rather absurd to say someone is more abnormal than they are not abnormal. And it is similar with "more brilliant/famous/easy than not".
These are "gradable" adjectives, which are possessed by their subjects in varying degrees. And "more xxxx than not" is not a very descriptive way of explaining degree.
More aptly one could say that someone was "not very romantic", "above/below average in their romantic inclination" or express it in 101 other different ways.
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
Thank you for your cooperation. "Descriptive way of explaining degree" Well, I think that this structure functions as an indicator of the entity of the subject's attribute which is described through adjective; That is, it wants to say "A is X, rather than not X.", therefore the emphasis is put on "the existence" of the attribute, not its relative degree. "X is more abnormal than not" can be interpreted as "X is abnormal, and one doesn't know how much, but anyway X is so." Thus it is too strong to say the use of this is absurd. Could you please tell me your, and others', opinions.
– gorudo
Dec 1 '18 at 10:57
add a comment |
It clearly does mean more abnormal than not abnormal - and it is certainly idiomatic English.
However I personally would not have used it in that type of context, because it sounds rather absurd to say someone is more abnormal than they are not abnormal. And it is similar with "more brilliant/famous/easy than not".
These are "gradable" adjectives, which are possessed by their subjects in varying degrees. And "more xxxx than not" is not a very descriptive way of explaining degree.
More aptly one could say that someone was "not very romantic", "above/below average in their romantic inclination" or express it in 101 other different ways.
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
Thank you for your cooperation. "Descriptive way of explaining degree" Well, I think that this structure functions as an indicator of the entity of the subject's attribute which is described through adjective; That is, it wants to say "A is X, rather than not X.", therefore the emphasis is put on "the existence" of the attribute, not its relative degree. "X is more abnormal than not" can be interpreted as "X is abnormal, and one doesn't know how much, but anyway X is so." Thus it is too strong to say the use of this is absurd. Could you please tell me your, and others', opinions.
– gorudo
Dec 1 '18 at 10:57
add a comment |
It clearly does mean more abnormal than not abnormal - and it is certainly idiomatic English.
However I personally would not have used it in that type of context, because it sounds rather absurd to say someone is more abnormal than they are not abnormal. And it is similar with "more brilliant/famous/easy than not".
These are "gradable" adjectives, which are possessed by their subjects in varying degrees. And "more xxxx than not" is not a very descriptive way of explaining degree.
More aptly one could say that someone was "not very romantic", "above/below average in their romantic inclination" or express it in 101 other different ways.
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
It clearly does mean more abnormal than not abnormal - and it is certainly idiomatic English.
However I personally would not have used it in that type of context, because it sounds rather absurd to say someone is more abnormal than they are not abnormal. And it is similar with "more brilliant/famous/easy than not".
These are "gradable" adjectives, which are possessed by their subjects in varying degrees. And "more xxxx than not" is not a very descriptive way of explaining degree.
More aptly one could say that someone was "not very romantic", "above/below average in their romantic inclination" or express it in 101 other different ways.
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
answered Dec 1 '18 at 8:06
WS2WS2
51.8k27114244
51.8k27114244
Thank you for your cooperation. "Descriptive way of explaining degree" Well, I think that this structure functions as an indicator of the entity of the subject's attribute which is described through adjective; That is, it wants to say "A is X, rather than not X.", therefore the emphasis is put on "the existence" of the attribute, not its relative degree. "X is more abnormal than not" can be interpreted as "X is abnormal, and one doesn't know how much, but anyway X is so." Thus it is too strong to say the use of this is absurd. Could you please tell me your, and others', opinions.
– gorudo
Dec 1 '18 at 10:57
add a comment |
Thank you for your cooperation. "Descriptive way of explaining degree" Well, I think that this structure functions as an indicator of the entity of the subject's attribute which is described through adjective; That is, it wants to say "A is X, rather than not X.", therefore the emphasis is put on "the existence" of the attribute, not its relative degree. "X is more abnormal than not" can be interpreted as "X is abnormal, and one doesn't know how much, but anyway X is so." Thus it is too strong to say the use of this is absurd. Could you please tell me your, and others', opinions.
– gorudo
Dec 1 '18 at 10:57
Thank you for your cooperation. "Descriptive way of explaining degree" Well, I think that this structure functions as an indicator of the entity of the subject's attribute which is described through adjective; That is, it wants to say "A is X, rather than not X.", therefore the emphasis is put on "the existence" of the attribute, not its relative degree. "X is more abnormal than not" can be interpreted as "X is abnormal, and one doesn't know how much, but anyway X is so." Thus it is too strong to say the use of this is absurd. Could you please tell me your, and others', opinions.
– gorudo
Dec 1 '18 at 10:57
Thank you for your cooperation. "Descriptive way of explaining degree" Well, I think that this structure functions as an indicator of the entity of the subject's attribute which is described through adjective; That is, it wants to say "A is X, rather than not X.", therefore the emphasis is put on "the existence" of the attribute, not its relative degree. "X is more abnormal than not" can be interpreted as "X is abnormal, and one doesn't know how much, but anyway X is so." Thus it is too strong to say the use of this is absurd. Could you please tell me your, and others', opinions.
– gorudo
Dec 1 '18 at 10:57
add a comment |
Yeah, it's a neat shortcut for saying "51% or more X". And like the other answer states, the sentence you quote is a bit tortured - it's not the clearest writing. One reason is because of the "double negative", something we try to avoid. I had to pause for a moment to figure out what its author meant. And yes, also, it's sometimes said in an ironic way. Although, "more often than not" is just fine and common. It's a longer way of talking, so it goes well with a beer in one hand and a pool cue in the other.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
add a comment |
Yeah, it's a neat shortcut for saying "51% or more X". And like the other answer states, the sentence you quote is a bit tortured - it's not the clearest writing. One reason is because of the "double negative", something we try to avoid. I had to pause for a moment to figure out what its author meant. And yes, also, it's sometimes said in an ironic way. Although, "more often than not" is just fine and common. It's a longer way of talking, so it goes well with a beer in one hand and a pool cue in the other.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
add a comment |
Yeah, it's a neat shortcut for saying "51% or more X". And like the other answer states, the sentence you quote is a bit tortured - it's not the clearest writing. One reason is because of the "double negative", something we try to avoid. I had to pause for a moment to figure out what its author meant. And yes, also, it's sometimes said in an ironic way. Although, "more often than not" is just fine and common. It's a longer way of talking, so it goes well with a beer in one hand and a pool cue in the other.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
Yeah, it's a neat shortcut for saying "51% or more X". And like the other answer states, the sentence you quote is a bit tortured - it's not the clearest writing. One reason is because of the "double negative", something we try to avoid. I had to pause for a moment to figure out what its author meant. And yes, also, it's sometimes said in an ironic way. Although, "more often than not" is just fine and common. It's a longer way of talking, so it goes well with a beer in one hand and a pool cue in the other.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
answered Dec 31 '18 at 11:52
JohnnyJohnny
3106
3106
add a comment |
add a comment |
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The idiom is "more X than not (X)".
– Hot Licks
Jan 2 at 2:49
I can't recall ever having heard this structure used other than in the stock phrases "more often than not" and "more likely than not." The examples that you give with abnormal, brilliant, famous and easy all sound odd to my ear.
– Al Maki
Jan 2 at 3:52