[Essay] Two ways to give a certain meaning!

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sseif

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I would like to know which one of the following sentences is correct:

This study explained U.S. little success in the task of stabilizing the region in terms of its adoption of forcible strategies.

Or

This study attributed U.S. little success in the task of stabilizing the region to its adoption of forcible strategies.

Thank you in advance
 

englishhobby

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For me, as a non-native speaker of English, both sentences are OK.
 

BobSmith

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As a native speaker, but not a teacher, both of these sentences not OK. Also, it took me several readings just to understand "This study explained U.S. little success".
 

sseif

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So what do you suggest as an alternative?
 

TheParser

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A NON-TEACHER'S OPINION


(1) I most respectfully agree with Mr. Smith: neither sentence would be considered

"correct" by native speakers.

(2) I may be mistaken (of course!), but I think that the writer wanted to express

something like this:


Because of its emphasis on force, the United States has had little success

in stabilizing the region.
 

englishhobby

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But what about the study? How will it fit into the context?
 

Raymott

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So what do you suggest as an alternative?

The correct way to express this depends largely on what the study found. Here are some possibilities:
The study found that the US has had (or had) little success in the task of stabilizing the region. (But neither of your sentences means this. The lack of success is presented as a given.)

The study attributed this relative lack of success to the US’s adoption of forcible strategies.
The study explained this relative lack of success in terms of the US’s adoption of forcible strategies.

The study found that the lack of success of the US in the task of stabilizing the region could be explained by its adoption of forcible strategies.

The study found that it was the adoption of forcible strategies by the US that accounted for the small success it had in stabilizing the region.

 

sseif

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I think the sentence:

The study found that the lack of success of the US in the task of stabilizing the region could be explained by its adoption of forcible strategies.

gives the meaning that I intended

Thank you
 
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