Kindly R-K "They say."

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TheParser

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Would someone kindly Reed-Kellogg this newspaper headline:

If you are planning a raid, they say, tell us.

I don't know whether it means:

They say (that) (you) tell us if you are planning a raid.

or

They say (to) tell us if you are planning a raid.

Your guidance, please.
 

Frank Antonson

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"They say tell us (that you are planning a raid), if you are planning a raid."

The sentence as it stands in your post does not actually make it clear what they should tell us.

I'll have to wait until I get home to diagram it.
 

Frank Antonson

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tellus.gif
 

TheParser

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Thank you SO much.

Here is the complete headline & deck. I have deleted two words for diplomatic reasons.

X GIVE U. S. AN EARFUL

Elders in X, invited to discuss development, turn the focus on security. If you're planning a raid, THEY SAY, tell us.

Would you say that your second diagram is the most appropriate?

Thank you.
 

Frank Antonson

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I still can't tell.

"THEY SAY" kind of smacks of what in the sixties we called "the establishment".
 
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