The most telling

[meliss]

I regarded "telling" as an Adjective, but here I don't uderstand:

"The most telling often alight on some detail and use that to symbolise the wider situation".

I would understand something like: "The most telling is often to alight on..." - is that it? Thank you.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by meliss

I regarded "telling" as an Adjective, but here I don't uderstand:

"The most telling often alight on some detail and use that to symbolise the wider situation".

I would understand something like: "The most telling is often to alight on..." - is that it? Thank you.

"Telling" is an adjective, but it is being used as a noun in this case. We do that sometimes in English by placing an article before the noun. We do that with rich, poor, wealthy, etc. Another way to look at it is the noun it modifies is left out in the second mention.

In this case, "telling" probably refers back to something that is "telling" in a previous sentence.

[meliss]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

In this case, "telling" probably refers back to something that is "telling" in a previous sentence.

In fact you're right. Now I see the meaning. Thank you very much indeed.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by meliss

In fact you're right. Now I see the meaning. Thank you very much indeed.

You're welcome.