A sentence

[nyggus]

"The results by Smith (2004) as well as those reported in this paper do not pertain to the situation in which the variables develop sequentially, but to what is called the non-sequantial development of variables."

Hi there. Is this sentence more or less logical and correct?
Thanks!
Nyggus

[riverkid]

"The results by Smith (2004) as well as those reported in this paper do not pertain to the situation in which the variables develop sequentially, but to what is called the non-sequantial development of variables."
Hi there. Is this sentence more or less logical and correct?
Thanks!
Nyggus

Hi Nyggus,

Except for the spelling mistake in "non-sequantial", it is grammatical. As to how logical it is, I'll have to defer to others as I don't know the context or the meaning.

[nyggus]

Hi Nyggus,
Except for the spelling mistake in "non-sequantial", it is grammatical. As to how logical it is, I'll have to defer to others as I don't know the context or the meaning.

Thanks, Riverkid. I have just noticed there is a lack of consequence in using the before the variables, and I think it should be without the article. What I did worry about was that the first and second clauses had a bit different structure. In the first, the results pertain to the situation in which something happens, but in the second, they pertain to something. Is it fine then?
Thanks,
Nyggus

[MikeNewYork]

"The results by Smith (2004) as well as those reported in this paper do not pertain to the situation in which the variables develop sequentially, but to what is called the non-sequantial development of variables."

Hi there. Is this sentence more or less logical and correct?
Thanks!
Nyggus

Just a couple of problems:

1. "The results by Smith" is understandable, but not technically correct. I would insert a verbal, obtained or published, after "results".

2. As you suspected, the verb structure is problematic. The sentence has "do not pertain to...but to".... This would be better as "pertain not to...but to". One could argue that a second "pertain" is understood after "but", but the rephrasing is better, IMO.

[nyggus]

2. As you suspected, the verb structure is problematic. The sentence has "do not pertain to...but to".... This would be better as "pertain not to...but to". One could argue that a second "pertain" is understood after "but", but the rephrasing is better, IMO.

You confirmend my concerns. However, I read the sentence once more and I figured that it is a kind of ellipsis, isn't it? I am sure it is understandable, and concise, so maybe it is correct? Now I would go for this version even though I had concerns before. I don't know...

Nyggus

[MikeNewYork]

You confirmend my concerns. However, I read the sentence once more and I figured that it is a kind of ellipsis, isn't it? I am sure it is understandable, and concise, so maybe it is correct? Now I would go for this version even though I had concerns before. I don't know...

Nyggus

Yes, one could argue for ellipsis there, but it is a small matter to eliminate any confusion.

[nyggus]

Yes, one could argue for ellipsis there, but it is a small matter to eliminate any confusion.

Indeed. The pertain not to...but to is fine for me. Thanks, MNY, for your help.

Nyggus

[MikeNewYork]

Indeed. The pertain not to...but to is fine for me. Thanks, MNY, for your help.

Nyggus

You're welcome.