[General] a misconception about losing weight

[Silverobama]

Hi.

I have some female friends who don’t eat lunch because they are afraid of putting on weight. However, they drink sodas, eat junk food. They believe if they eat less they will lose weight. They are always telling me they don’t have lunch or dinner for they want to lose weight. I wrote this sentence:

They (my friends) have a misconception about losing weight.

Is this sentence natural?

 

[tedmc]

Yes, but why do you think that your friends' idea of skipping meals to lose weight is misconceived?

 

[Silverobama]

Some female friends I know seldom eat dinner because they think they will put on weight if they eat dinner, but this is not good for the health. Also, they eat only fruit and vegetables, they think protein will make them grow fat.

I look up the word "misconception", I think it's the word I need. I want to say.

They have wrong methods about losing weight.

Perhaps "They have misconceptions about losing weight".

Would any native speakers please help?

 

[tedmc]

Misconception is about opinions. You are talking about the method your friends adopt to lose weight. I would say: They have the wrong approach to losing weight.

 

[Silverobama]

Misconception is about opinions. You are talking about the method your friends adopt to lose weight. I would say: They have the wrong approach to losing weight.

They do have opinions, don't they? Their opinions about how to lose weight, which means "not eat enough and food with protein".

 

[GoesStation]

They (my friends) have a misconception about losing weight.

Is this sentence natural?

It's fine.

 

[Silverobama]

It's fine.

I want to improve it to:

They have misconceptions about losing weight.

I think this sound more general. I wonder if it's better to you, GoesStation.

 

[GoesStation]

I want to improve it to:

They have misconceptions about losing weight.

I think this sounds more general. I wonder if [STRIKE]it's[/STRIKE] it sounds better to you, GoesStation.

It's equally correct, grammatically. Use the singular if they have a single misconception; otherwise, use the plural.

 

[jutfrank]

Misconception is about opinions.

Actually, no. A misconception is a misunderstanding (often to do with the way something works). It's a mistaken belief. It's not about opinions.

It is used correctly in this context.

 

[Tarheel]

It's simple, Silver. Tell them to find out what thin people do and do that. (They stay active.)

 

[teechar]

However, they drink sodas, eat junk food.

What's the above missing?

They are always telling me they don’t have lunch or dinner for they want to lose weight.

There are two issues with the above.
1- No one (except, e.g., in poetry, song lyrics or some similar context) uses "for" to mean "because" nowadays.
2- You should use a comma before "because" in such sentences to avoid any potential ambiguity.

 

[Silverobama]

However, they drink sodas, and eat junk food.

However, they drink sodas, eat junk food and so on.

Are my new tries good?

 

[GoesStation]

However, they drink sodas, and eat junk food.

However, they drink sodas, eat junk food and so on.

Are my new tries good?

Move a comma from the first into the second and they'll both be okay.

 

[Silverobama]

However, they drink sodas and eat junk food.

However, they drink sodas, eat junk food, and so on.

:?::lol:

 

[teechar]

However, they drink sodas, and eat junk food.
However, they drink sodas, eat junk food and so on.

Kind of. Your examples are not consistent. Do you know about what's called the Oxford comma? Your first example uses it, but the second doesn't.
Read up on it in the link below, and post your revised sentences to show us that you've understood.

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/what-is-the-oxford-comma-and-why-do-people-care-so-much-about-it/

 

[Silverobama]

However, they drink sodas, and eat junk food.

However, they drink sodas, eat junk food, and so on.

:lol:

 

[teechar]

Do you really think it's necessary in the first sentence?

 

[Silverobama]

Oops, it's not necessary.

I thought you quoted my second answer to GoesStation so I didn't change it. I am sorry, teechar.

However, they drink sodas and eat junk food.

 

[Tdol]

they think protein will make them grow fat.

I drink beer to keep my weight down for the same reason. You're right that it doesn't work very well. :cheers:

 

[Tarheel]

If protein will increase the amount of fat you have then I guess fat will increase the amount of protein you have.

That seems to be the "logic" your friends are using. (I would consider saying that to them just to get their reaction.)