help (somebody) to do something vs help (somebody) do something

[EngFan]

Hi All,

I would like to know the difference between help (somebody) to do something and help (somebody) do something?


EngFan

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: What is the difference between help (sb) to do sth and help (sb) do sth?

There's no difference.

Please use the Edit Post feature to change 'sb' to 'somebody' and 'sth' to 'something'.

We don't want other students to think these non-standard abbreviations are acceptable here.

 

[tzfujimino]

Re: What is the difference between help (sb) to do sth and help (sb) do sth?

There's no difference.

Please use the Edit Post feature to change 'sb' to 'somebody' and 'sth' to 'something'.

We don't want other students to think these non-standard abbreviations are acceptable here.

Hello, Rover.:-D

I'm not really sure they are non-standard or not:
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary: International Student's Edition and CD-ROM with Oxford iWriter: Joanna Turnbull, Diana Lea, Dilys Parkinson, Patrick Phillips, Ben Francis, Suzanne Webb, Victoria Bull, Michael Ashby: 9780194799140: Amazo#_

(Could you click on 'LOOK INSIDE', please? I've actually seen them used in several English-English dictionaries.)

I wholeheartedly agree with you that incomprehensible/incorrect abbreviations should be avoided here.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: What is the difference between help (sb) to do sth and help (sb) do sth?

Those abbreviations are regularly used in dictionaries (and similar publications) because there is limited space. However, we like all words to be written out in full on the site because it is less confusing to beginners. Learners on the site who are not familiar with these definitions might be completely flummoxed by the use of "sb" and "sth" - they might try to look those up as proper words. Even when they know that they are abbreviations, they still might to try and use them in normal writing. Some abbreviations are perfectly acceptable in standard writing ("etc" for example) but "sb" and "sth" are not.

 

[tzfujimino]

Re: What is the difference between help (sb) to do sth and help (sb) do sth?

Those abbreviations are regularly used in dictionaries (and similar publications) because there is limited space. However, we like all words to be written out in full on the site because it is less confusing to beginners. Learners on the site who are not familiar with these definitions might be completely flummoxed by the use of "sb" and "sth" - they might try to look those up as proper words. Even when they know that they are abbreviations, they still might to try and use them in normal writing. Some abbreviations are perfectly acceptable in standard writing ("etc" for example) but "sb" and "sth" are not.

I agree.

"I saw sb enter my house last night. / I felt sth crawling up my back. " is not acceptable at all.

I'd like to offer my deepest apology for my recent thread, where I used these abbreviations.