Otherwise

[learningspirit]

I have a question about the meaning of "otherwise" here:

The prime remediating objective of surgery is to remove as many tumor cells as possible, with complete removal being the best outcome and cytoreduction ("debulking") of the tumor otherwise.

There are quite a number of definitions for "otherwise". What should "otherwise" mean with this usage?

 

[MikeNewYork]

In my opinion, "otherwise" is not needed there.

 

[learningspirit]

@MikeNewYork

So, "otherwise" was misused?

 

[MikeNewYork]

At best it is redundant.

 

[learningspirit]

@MikeNewYork

I re-read the original and feel that the part:

....with complete removal being the best outcome and cytoreduction ("debulking") of the tumor otherwise.

is not well written. What do you think?

 

[tedmc]

How about:

The prime remediating objective of surgery is to remove as many tumor cells as possible, with complete removal being the best outcome, [STRIKE]and [/STRIKE] if not, cytoreduction ("debulking") of the tumor[STRIKE]otherwise[/STRIKE].

What is 'remediating objective'?
Complete removal of tumour cells is not an 'outcome'.

not a teacher

 

[Matthew Wai]

, [STRIKE]and [/STRIKE] if not,

I think it can be replaced by 'or', but I am not a teacher.

 

[tedmc]

There is a difference between using 'if not' and 'or'.
Complete removal of tumour is the best, if not (meaning if complete removal is not possible), cytoreduction of tumour. The latter procedure is meant to be a second choice.

'Or' implies the latter is just as good.

Surgery should be considered a treatment, not an outcome.

not a teacher

 

[Matthew Wai]

The outcome of the surgery is supposed to be complete removal or cytoreduction, so I think 'or' can be used.

'Or' implies the latter is just as good.

Such an implication should not exist due to the preceding words 'the best'.

The latter procedure is meant to be a second choice.

The context has made it clear that the latter is the second best, so I think 'if not' is unneeded.

Not a teacher.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

'Otherwise' is neither redundant nor unnecessary in the original since the sentence would be meaningless without it, or some more suitable word or expression.

You could replace 'otherwise' with 'being the next/second best', which is the intended meaning.

Otherwise you could insert 'or failing that' to give '…with complete removal being the best outcome or, failing that, cytoreduction of the tumor.'

 

[Tdol]

I don't see how it's redundant either with and there. It might not be a very elegant sentence, but it would be worse without it IMO.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I misread the sentence.

 

[learningspirit]

@MikeNewYork

So, what does "otherwise" mean in the original sentence?

 

[MikeNewYork]

It means that there are two alternatives, removing the entire tumor (the best) or debulking the tumor (removing a lot of it), which is the second best choice.

 

[tedmc]

You could replace 'otherwise' with 'being the next/second best', which is the intended meaning.

Otherwise you could insert 'or failing that' to give '…with complete removal being the best outcome or, failing that, cytoreduction of the tumor.'

So, which conjunction is the best to express that 'debulking' is the second best choice?

otherwise/ or / failing that/ failing which / being the next/second best /if not

How about:

The prime objective of surgery is to remove as many tumor cells as possible, with complete removal being the best outcome (treatment?), the second option being cytoreduction ("debulking") of the tumor.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I like your revision with "treatment".

 

[learningspirit]

@MikeNewYork

So, the original is already poorly written and the use of "otherwise" made it more so?

 

[Tdol]

I think it was poorly written, but I don't think that otherwise made things worse.

 

[Matthew Wai]

So, what does "otherwise" mean in the original sentence?

May I take it to mean that 'complete removal is the best outcome, otherwise it would be cytoreduction ("debulking") of the tumor'?

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes, Matthew.