Acknowldege + receipt

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Rezafo

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I came across one of the old posts which it is closed now, and I couldn't comment and put my question. So, here I go:

In that post somebody had asked about the correctness of " please acknowledge receipt of ..",

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/35110-acknowledge-same.html


and the reply was:

Yes, it's horrid. It's also wrong .

And this is the example of Longman Dictionary:

I would be grateful if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter.

Please explain, 1- Why is it wrong? , 2- How come the dictionary example has the same wording. 3, What about " Please acknowledge receiving of " ? is it correct or no?
 

5jj

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The 'horrid' comment was about the use of 'the same', not about 'acknowledge receipt of'. That's fine.

Your #3 is not acceptable.
 
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Rezafo

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The 'horrid' comment was about the use of 'the same', not about 'acknowledge receipt of'. That's fine.

Thank you, I will check it again.
You #3 is not acceptable.
And why? [ Grammatically], (just wanna learn more details) :)
 

emsr2d2

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Thank you, I will check it again.
And why? [ Grammatically], (just wanna learn more details) :)

We follow "Please acknowledge..." with a noun.

Please acknowledge receipt of...
Please acknowledge payment.
Please acknowledge delivery.

If you wish to follow it with a verb construction then:

Please acknowledge that you have received...
Please acknowledge that the payment was processed successfully.
Please acknowledge that the parcel was delivered.
 

Rezafo

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We follow "Please acknowledge..." with a noun.

Please acknowledge receipt of...
Please acknowledge payment.
Please acknowledge delivery.

If you wish to follow it with a verb construction then:

Please acknowledge that you have received...
Please acknowledge that the payment was processed successfully.
Please acknowledge that the parcel was delivered.


She acknowledged having been at fault.

Oxford dictionary

"having being" is not a verb construction? [ just asking ]
 

birdeen's call

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She acknowledged having been at fault.

Oxford dictionary

"having being" is not a verb construction? [ just asking ]

Whatever you wish to call it, "having been at fault" works like a noun in this sentence. What did she acknowledge? She acknowledged having been at fault.
 

Rezafo

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Whatever you wish to call it,

I didn't know that grammar is at my disposal to call it whatever I desire! In this case I wish to take "receiving" as a noun. [gerund]
 

birdeen's call

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I didn't know that grammar is at my disposal to call it whatever I desire! In this case I wish to take "receiving" as a noun. [gerund]
I didn't say anything about what is at your disposal. I just said that the function of "having been at fault" in the sentence you quoted doesn't depend on the name you give to the phrase.

"Receiving" may be a gerund but it may be something else too. Are you talking about the following sentence?

I would be grateful if you would acknowledge receiving of this letter.


It's not a good sentence. "Receipt" is better than "receiving" here. I think "having received" would be OK too, but why make your sentence longer and more complicated structurally when it's unnecessary?
 
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Rezafo

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I didn't say anything about what is at your disposal. I just said that the function of "having been at fault" in the sentence you quoted doesn't depend on the name you give to the phrase.

"Receiving" may be a gerund but it may be something else too. Are you talking about the following sentence?

I would be grateful if you would acknowledge receiving of this letter.


It's not a good sentence. "Receipt" is better than "receiving" here. I think "having received" would be OK too, but why make your sentence longer and more complicated structurally when it's unnecessary?


Thanks for your time and care. Now it's clear to me and I appreciate your help. :)
 
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