Is this sentence grammatically correct? (calling all grammar geeks!)
I’m in the process of writing, and I just had a brain fart, so I’m in need of assistance. Is this sentence grammatically correct: “We are examining the rapid pace at which progressives are traveling in order to fight for gay rights.” The “at which” part looks a little out of place.
The help is appreciated. And please don’t make this political. This is just an example sentence, and I want to make sure it’s correct. Thank you, everyone!
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16 Answers
Or maybe it’s the “in order to” part. I don’t know. Help!
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Grammatically, it is correct. However, your meanng, or what you are trying to say, is unclear to me.
It works. Just switch up the wording and see if it still makes sense: “progressives are traveling at a rapid pace” vs. “the rapid pace at which progressives are traveling”. If the first one makes sense, then so should the second.
But you can remove the “at which” and the sentence retains its meaning, as in “we are examining the rapid pace progressives are traveling” or even “we are examining the rapid pace that progressives are traveling”.
I think the sentence needs fixing. It makes it sound as if progressives are traveling to a fight.
Grammatically correct. The “in order to…” phrase, however, is ambiguous. Does it refer to “examining” or “traveling?”
Ambuguous because of the dangling participle. Who is fighting for gay rights? We, or the progressives?
It is grammatically correct but both clumsy and unclear.
I don’t think that that anyone travels (at a rapid or slow pace) in order to improve gay rights.
If you were my student, I would say, “Tell me what you mean.”
I think the sentence is grammatically perfect. I might change “travelling” to “proceeding” for clarity, but I don’t think it’s grammatically necessary.
Grammatically, yes. But you spelled “correct” wrong.
it’s mostly correct…but to solve the ambiguity issue which has already been pointed out…. try this perhaps instead:
“In an effort to fight for gay rights, we are examining the rapid pace at which progressives are traveling.”
Combining traveling and fighting is using a mixed metaphor. By dropping the traveling metaphor, you can talk about “the increasing rate at which progressives are committing themselves to the fight for gay rights.”
The whole sentence doesn’t make sense to me. Are you looking to see if Progressives are breaking speed limit?. Or are progressives speeding to a fight?
I think you mean: “Progressives quickly showed their support for gay rights. We are studying ways to make that support more effective.”
It stands out because it is correct, and common usage tends otherwise.
“the rapid pace at which progressives are travelling”
is correct grammar, proper style, and unambiguous,
compared to the pedestrian alternative
“the rapid pace progressives are travelling at”.
On the other hand I agree that the point in unclear due that whole mixed metaphor thing.
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