I will only be in the city for another month.

[Bin Duan]

I’m confused about the expression: for another month. Does it mean this month combined with next month? According to the letter above, the writer will be in another place in September. Therefore, I imagine that he will stay put here in this city within the two months, which means July and August? Please tell me if I’m correct, I will be grateful for the insight of someone with your expertise.

 

[Barque]

It means "for another thirty days or so". If he wrote it on the first of a month, he was planning to stay till the end of that month. If he wrote it on the 10th of a month, he was planning to stay till about the 10th of the next month.

 

[Bin Duan]

I ed

It means "for another thirty days or so". If he wrote it on the first of a month, he was planning to stay till the end of that month. If he wrote it on the 10th of a month, he was planning to stay till about the 10th of the next month.

It means "for another thirty days or so". If he wrote it on the first of a month, he was planning to stay till the end of that month. If he wrote it on the 10th of a month, he was planning to stay till about the 10th of the next month.

I edited my post just now. Am I correct this time?

 

[Ms. Worth]

I’m confused about the expression: for another month. Does it mean this month combined with next month?

Another issue caught my eye -- the misplaced "only."

The word "only" should be placed near the words it is modifying, like this:
> I will be in the city for only another month.

It's common to hear the misplaced word in spoken speech, but in writing or formal speaking, it should be edited to improve the location of the word.

​

 

[Barque]

Therefore, I imagine that he will stay put here in this city within the two months, which means July and August?

No. It appears that the "month" that he refers to ends in September, when he plans to travel to Iceland. So he probably wrote that letter sometime in August.

As I said, "month" here refers to a period of thirty days and he may be using it loosely to mean "about thirty days".

I edited my post just now. Am I correct this time?

It'd be simpler if you typed additions to your post in a different post. If you edit your post after it's been answered, people who read this thread in the future won't know what you said earlier and what you said later.

 

[Bin Duan]

Another issue caught my eye -- the misplaced "only."

The word "only" should be placed near the words it is modifying, like this:
> I will be in the city for only another month.

It's common to hear the misplaced word in spoken speech, but in writing or formal speaking, it should be edited to improve the location of the word.

​

That was close. I sincerely believed the letter in itself was written by a native speaker who I believe to be a member of the developing team of the video game, whose title is called The uncharted 4. This is such a famous video game that I’m scouring and consulting the storyline word for word for the purpose of improving my English by learning the authentic material. Unfortunately, there is still some grammatical flaws along the context in an unexpected way. Thanks for your timely catch.

 

[5jj]

The word "only" should be placed near the words it is modifying, like this:
> I will be in the city for only another month.

It's common to hear the misplaced word in spoken speech, but in writing or formal speaking, it should be edited to improve the location of the word.

Good luck. I have just about given up on that. It saddens me to report that, years after I pointed out the sin, there is one English language forum that still instructs its members to "Only write in English".

 

[Ms. Worth]

That was close. I sincerely believed the letter in itself was written by a native speaker who I believe to be a member of the developing team of the video game, whose title is called The uncharted 4. This is such a famous video game that I’m scouring and consulting the storyline word for word for the purpose of improving my English by learning the authentic material. Unfortunately, there is still some grammatical flaws along the context in an unexpected way. Thanks for your timely catch.

In "processed" language such as written work, prepared address, teaching from notes, broadcast, preaching, or interviews, it's a big help to have previously automated your use of the best placement for the word "only."

But even in casual discourse, it lends an air of sophistication and education to your speech.
The listeners don't necessarily know just exactly what it is, but they still think "What elegant speech!"

Good luck. I have just about given up on that. It saddens me to report that, years after I pointed out the sin, there is one English language forum that still instructs its members to "Only write in English".

Aargh!

Yes, well, I have kind of given up on that as well.
I still keep it in my own processed oral and written speech, but it's mostly to feel self-congratulatory.
But I do think it casts a shine on spoken English, even if my audience can't put their finger on exactly why.)

When I see the opportunity, I tell students not to misplace these words (or say "have went"), just in case one seed falls on fertile soil (I teach math and science.)

I'm fairly tolerant of this mistake because I certainly make this mistake all the time in spontaneous speech.

 

[Ms. Worth]

In "processed" language such as written work, prepared address, teaching from notes, broadcast, preaching, or interviews, it's a big help to have previously automated your use of the best placement for the word "only."

But even in casual discourse, it lends an air of sophistication and education to your speech.
The listeners don't necessarily know just exactly what it is, but they still think "What elegant speech!"

Aargh!

Yes, well, I have kind of given up on that as well.
I still keep it in my own processed oral and written speech, but it's mostly to feel self-congratulatory.
But I do think it casts a shine on spoken English, even if my audience can't put their finger on exactly why.)

When I see the opportunity, I tell students not to misplace these words (or say "have went"), just in case one seed falls on fertile soil (I teach math and science.)

I'm fairly tolerant of this mistake because I certainly make this mistake all the time in spontaneous speech.

And "Hi Ann," with no comma after "Hi."

I wrote to the web site in one case, and got back a civil letter thanking me.
They made the change too.
I was encouraged by this to write to a few more, but they all ignored me.

 

[Ms. Worth]

That was close. I sincerely believed the letter in itself was written by a native speaker who I believe to be a member of the developing team of the video game, whose title is called The uncharted 4. This is such a famous video game that I’m scouring and consulting the storyline word for word for the purpose of improving my English by learning the authentic material. Unfortunately, there is still some grammatical flaws along the context in an unexpected way. Thanks for your timely catch.

In "processed" language such as written work, prepared addresses, teaching from notes, broadcast, preaching, or interviews, it's a big help to have previously automated your use of the best placement for the word "only" because formal and pre-examined speech should be edited tor the correct placement of "only."

But even in casual discourse, it lends an air of sophistication and education to your speech.
The listeners don't necessarily know just exactly what it is, but they still think "What elegant speech!"