To ''enrich'' or ''enhance'' their functions?

Status
Not open for further replies.

James Ko

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
Hi guys,

This is my first post here so I apologise in advance for any irrelevancies.

I am posting because I wonder if I can put down a sentence like ''they have enriched their functions by embracing technological innovations...''. What I try to convey is that ''they have diversified their functions'' and ''made their contents of their functions more rich''.



I am asking because my supervisor said that functions can only be ''enhanced'' rather than ''enriched.'' So I'm afraid of misusing the word or making this sentence weird. Could you guys give me some hints about that? Any feedback, even as simple as a ''yes'' or a ''no,'' would all be greatly appreciated.

James
 
Last edited by a moderator:

philo2009

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
However you may reason it, the collocation 'enrich a function' is unidiomatic. Stick with 'enhance'!
 

James Ko

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
Hi philo2009, thank you for your kind reply:)
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Welcome to the forums, James. :-D

For future reference, instead of sending your thanks in a separate message, just click the Like button, please.

The reason is that it is flagged as a new post, so we think you might have a follow-up question or something to add. Those of us with slow internet connections and/or old computers have to waste valuable time waiting for it to appear.

Thank you.

Rover
 

konungursvia

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Most of these sound like CV-pumping double-talk, in my view.
 

James Ko

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
Most of these sound like CV-pumping double-talk, in my view.

May I ask: does ''enrich the contents'' sound any better?

Sorry for this follow-up question. I just really like the meaning of ''enrich'' in Chinese (my mother language) and now get kind of confused with the usage of this word...always difficult for non-native speakers...

Again, any comment will be greatly appreciated.
 

konungursvia

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
You need a complete sentence with context. Are you talking about the functions of an end-user program, or someone's professional responsibilities?
 

James Ko

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
Thank you for your response, Konungursvia :)

Well, I am actually writing an essay featuring how museums today have embraced innovations to ''enhance'' their functions. I still pretty like ''enrich their functions,'' but since it's not idiomatic I am wondering if I can put down something like ''innovations enable museums to enrich their contents of exhibition'' etc.

Hope you guys don't mind giving me more guidance;-)
(sorry for this late reply as caught a cold recently)
 

konungursvia

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Well you don't have to write it in Chinese using English words. Just say the museums have embraced innovations, and explain the innovations, without bullshitting about why.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top