I would suggest that the reason for the fault is/was/would be lack of attention

[Superguay]

Hi all,

Which of the above three options sounds more natural?

If I wanted to distance myself from the statement to a greater extent than implied by "would suggest", should I keep "would be lack of attention"?

Secondly, of the two options is/was, does it make sense to choose "is", even though the error in question occurred a long time ago?


Thanks.

 

[teechar]

Which of the above three options sounds more natural?

They're all possible, but "would be" is unlikely in that sentence.

If I wanted to distance myself from the statement to a greater extent than implied by "would suggest", should I keep "would be lack of attention"?

No. Use, for example, "might have been".

Secondly, of the two options is/was, does it make sense to choose "is", even though the error in question occurred a long time ago?

See above.

 

[SoothingDave]

A lack of attention.

 

[Superguay]

1. Is the indefinite article compulsory here?

2. What about this option: I would suggest that the most likely reason for the fault would have been lack of attention.

 

[teechar]

1. Is the indefinite article compulsory here?

Not to me.

2. What about this option? I would suggest that the most likely reason for the fault would have been lack of attention.

That works, but note that "would" is stronger than "might", and you said that you wanted to distance yourself from the statement.

 

[Superguay]

Not to me.


That works, but note that "would" is stronger than "might", and you said that you wanted to distance yourself from the statement.

"I would suggest that the most likely reason for... might have been lack of attention"

Don't you find "might" and "the most likely" in the same sentence a bit contradictory?

 

[teechar]

Not necessarily. You did your best to ascertain the reason, and the best you could come up with was lack of attention, even though you're not totally sure about that.

 

[SoothingDave]

To me, the article is necessary. It's a like a fixed expression.

 

[tedmc]

"I would suggest that the most likely reason for... might have been lack of attention"

Don't you find "might" and "the most likely" in the same sentence a bit contradictory?

I would use either, not both.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

1. Since it happened a long time ago, use was, might have been, or could have been, depending on context.

In this kind of sentence, I avoid would, as in would have been. It's flabby English.

2. The word fault seems unlikely. Depending on context, I'd expect to see:

- problem
- mistake
- accident
- error
- blunder
- mix-up
- misunderstanding

3. "I would suggest" is natural but verbose:

- It's not that you would suggest. You do suggest.

- And it's obvious that you're suggesting it, because — well — you're suggesting it. Right? So you can skip "I suggest" or "I would suggest" and just start with: "The reason for . . . ."

4. You don't have to juggle tenses to "distance" yourself. For example, you can preface your remark with simple declarative but phrases like:

- I'm not sure, but . . . .
- I wasn't there, but . . . .
- I'm not an expert, but . . . .
- There's no way to be sure, but . . . .
- This is just a guess, but . . . .
- Your guess is as good as mine, but . . . .

 

[teechar]

"Would" makes it softer/more tentative. Is that not the same in AmE?

 

[GoesStation]

"Would" makes it softer/more tentative. Is that not the same in AmE?

It is.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It is.

Yes, it does, but in a somewhat beat-around-the-bush, cringey way. At least to my ears.

 

[GoesStation]

Yes, it does, but in a somewhat beat-around-the-bush, cringey way. At least to my ears.

You've been living in the Northeast for a long time, haven't you? To my Midwestern ears, it sounds mildly diffident.

(For learners: I'm alluding to stereotypes about people from two American regions. Northeasterners are said to be plainspoken and brusque; Midwesterners are not. Charlie has previously said that he grew up in my region and now lives in the far Northeast.)

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

You've been living in the Northeast for a long time, haven't you? To my Midwestern ears, it sounds mildly diffident.

(For learners: I'm alluding to stereotypes about people from two American regions. Northeasterners are said to be plainspoken and brusque; Midwesterners are not. Charlie has previously said that he grew up in my region and now lives in the far Northeast.)

I'm laughing. You got me dead to rights!

Once I said to another northeastern buddy, "Hope I didn't hurt your feelings."

He said, "I don't do feelings. I'm from New Jersey."