question

[Taka]

My dictionary says:

You should be careful in crossing the street.=You should be careful when/while you cross the street.

Yeh, probably. But isn't it possible to take such "in" as "concerning" or "with regard to", as in, say, "a country rich in minerals" or "She was not lacking in courage"?

[Tdol]

Is it an American dictionary? I wouldn't use 'in' there. I'd just say 'careful crossing'.

[Taka]

Originally Posted by tdol

Is it an American dictionary? I wouldn't use 'in' there. I'd just say 'careful crossing'.

Actually, it's an English-Japanese dictionary (again). And I've found similar entries in other English-Japanese dictionaries as well. Seems like I really need to throw them away.

But what about this one. It's from an article written by an American:

As is true throughout the world, the farther out from any urban center, generally the lower the rent will be. However, transportation may be so overcrowded and expensive that one has to balance these two factors in deciding where to settle.

It should be equal to "when one decide". But isn't it possible to take such "in" as "in regard to"?

[Tdol]

You could change 'in' to 'when' there without changing the meaning. 'In regard to' would work better, imo, if it came before the factors.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Taka

My dictionary says:

You should be careful in crossing the street.=You should be careful when/while you cross the street.

Yeh, probably. But isn't it possible to take such "in" as "concerning" or "with regard to", as in, say, "a country rich in minerals" or "She was not lacking in courage"?

As with most problems we run across in English-Japanese~Japanese-English dictionaries, the author is, again, using a semantic extension:

You should be careful in these matters/this matter of concern.

You should be careful in (V-ing) who you deal with.
You should be careful in (V-ing) what you expect.
You should be careful in crossing the street. (OK, but sematically awkward for some speakers if they feel 'crossing the street' isn't necessarily considered a matter of/for great concern.

All the best,

[Taka]

Originally Posted by tdol

You could change 'in' to 'when' there without changing the meaning. 'In regard to' would work better, imo, if it came before the factors.

Are you saying that if it were " However, transportation may be so overcrowded and expensive that,in deciding where to settle, one has to balance these two factors.", then it should be semantically the same as "....,in regard to deciding where to settle, one has to balance these two factors."?

Why would such difference in your interpretation happen according to the position of the "in"-phrase?

[Taka]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

You should be careful in these matters/this matter of concern.

You should be careful in (V-ing) who you deal with.
You should be careful in (V-ing) what you expect.
You should be careful in crossing the street. (OK, but sematically awkward for some speakers if they feel 'crossing the street' isn't necessarily

considered a matter of/for great concern.

Sorry Casiopea, but I don't really understand what you' re saying, I'm afraid.

Could you please elaborate?

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Taka

Sorry Casiopea, but I don't really understand what you' re saying, I'm afraid.

Could you please elaborate?

As synonyms,

You should be careful when crossing the street. (OK)
You should be careful in crossing the street. (OK)

:D

[Taka]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

As synonyms,

You should be careful when crossing the street. (OK)
You should be careful in crossing the street. (OK)

I see. But my question is, isn't it possible to interpret such "in" as "in regard to"?

What do you think?

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by Taka

Are you saying that if it were " However, transportation may be so overcrowded and expensive that,in deciding where to settle, one has to balance these two factors.", then it should be semantically the same as "....,in regard to deciding where to settle, one has to balance these two factors."?

Why would such difference in your interpretation happen according to the position of the "in"-phrase?

I'm not very keen on using 'in regard to' here, but could put it at the start as an introductory phrase. I would use the phrase as an introductoru marker rather than for a conclusion.