Natural use of adjectives

[Midlands Hammer]

Can anyone help me understand why "an acceptable straight line" sounds unnatural? This is the sentence : "I was barely able to draw an acceptable straight line."

I wondered if "acceptable" should only be used predicatively but I can think of attributive usages e.g. an acceptable result.

If it was academic writing, then I think it would be OK (with a comma between the adjectives), because the reader will read literally and no confusion should arise. However, this writing is neutral or informal. The reader might be confused and think that the writer meant "acceptably straight" (straight enough).

But my preferred theory is that the two adjectives are very different in meaning. "straight" is about objective physical appearance and "acceptable" is about opinion. In this case, it's better to put the adjective about opinion after the verb in order to separate the ideas clearly for the reader.

Any feedback would be appreciated. I am trying to give guidance to a student beyond the minimum "it's not natural".

PS This question has already been posted here https://www.italki.com/question/363247

 

[Barb_D]

I agree with Bob on the other site.

No one can draw a perfectly straight line without using a straight edge, like a ruler. The line "I can barely draw a straight line" is therefore illogical to start with.

The person who wrote this is admitting that drawing a straight line is actually very hard, not something that is the least someone with little talent can do.

I suppose "acceptably straight" might be correct, but the original sounds quite natural.

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree with you that the intended meaning was probably "acceptably straight" which would be natural. The problem I have with "acceptable straight line" is simply that a line can't be acceptable or unacceptable.

[Cross-posted with Barb, interestingly with opposing views!]

 

[Midlands Hammer]

Thank you for your answer. I can't see why "I can barely draw a straight line" is illogical. I can imagine saying it myself. I infer that the writer is referring to his ability rather than the objective difficulty.

 

[Midlands Hammer]

I see nothing at all unnatural about an 'acceptable straight line'. It is a straight line drawn without the help of a ruler that is acceptable as a straight line.

Thank you for your answer. I think that your interpretation would make sense if the words were "acceptably straight", but this demonstrates that "acceptable straight" gives rise to ambiguity: is it a line which is both acceptable and straight? Or is it one which is straight within an certain range of acceptability?

 

[Midlands Hammer]

I agree with you that the intended meaning was probably "acceptably straight" which would be natural. The problem I have with "acceptable straight line" is simply that a line can't be acceptable or unacceptable.

[Cross-posted with Barb, interestingly with opposing views!]

Thanks for your answer. Yes, I think that is getting closer to my problem. If it is acceptable or not, then this implies the opinion of the writer or another is relevant in which case the issue of "acceptability" probably needs to be spelt out more clearly in a predicate.

 

[Midlands Hammer]

I'm due to meet this student some time soon so I'll report back once I know exactly what he meant. In the meantime, thanks for the comments.

 

[Tdol]

I can't see why "I can barely draw a straight line" is illogical.

It isn't to me- I struggle to do the most basic things in drawing and would struggle to draw a straight line. A stick-figure is high art to me.

 

[Raymott]

The meaning is the same - an acceptably straight line is an acceptable straight line. "Straight line" is such a common collocation that most native speakers would automatically read it as a compound noun, in my opinion - "an acceptable [straight line]".

 

[Barb_D]

My point is that a TRULY straight line (without a ruler) is extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Anyone should be able to draw something that is almost a straight line - one that is an "acceptable/acceptably straight line." Therefore, saying you can barely draw an "acceptable/acceptably straight line" DOES make sense.

She's so talented, she can draw an actual straight line.

I lack any drawing talent - I can barely draw a line that is even close to straight.

However, the phrase "can barely draw a straight line" is still a common one. I admire the writer for acknowledging that a truly straight line is impossible, and modifying the idea of "straight line" to "acceptable/acceptably straight line."

Does that make sense?