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10-15-2004, 10:44 AM
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#1 of 12 
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Question Pertaining to Grammar (adverb use)
Which sentence sounds best:
The climate of the contemporary workplace is changing dramatically.
The climate of the contemporary workplace is dramatically changing.
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10-15-2004, 10:50 AM
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#2 of 12
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Administrator
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I like the first one. Neither is wrong, though.
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10-15-2004, 12:27 PM
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#3 of 12
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The difference between the two is whether you want to put more emphasis on the word changing or dramatically. With the first one, it makes the word changing stand out more. In the second, the word dramatically stands out more.
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10-15-2004, 12:30 PM
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#4 of 12
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The first one. I don't know what is what in grammar, but it is the workplace that is changing. The extras should follow.
Glenn
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10-15-2004, 01:16 PM
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#5 of 12
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Joe Kauffman
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Dammit, I can't find my grammar police manual, but I don't think you can separate "is changing".
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10-15-2004, 01:36 PM
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#6 of 12
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HTF MGM Reviewer
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Quote:
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Dammit, I can't find my grammar police manual, but I don't think you can separate "is changing".
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Separating them is fine as far as I know. You may be thinking of splitting infinitives. For example, if it were "to change" some think it would be wrong to place the adverb before the verb.
More info: http://www.bartleby.com/68/76/5676.html
Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation. - Edward R. Murrow
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10-15-2004, 01:55 PM
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#7 of 12
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thanks for the replies...
jon.. your reply def. clarifies the issue (i.e. where to put emphasis). I'm going w/ sentence #1
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10-15-2004, 03:26 PM
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#8 of 12
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To add on to the advice so far, I think the key here is understanding what your audience already knows. If your point is that the reader will be surprised to know that things are changing then it comes first for the emphasis.
However, if it is a case where you think the reader already somewhat understands that change is taking place, then putting dramatically first is probably better because your point to them isn't that there is change but that there is dramatic change.
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10-15-2004, 04:08 PM
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#9 of 12
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I don't think it's a matter of emphasis as much as it is style. The last word in the sentence should be powerful and vivid. You don't want to end on a weak note. Sentences, paragraphs, and stories should all build to the climax. "Changing" is not nearly as exciting as "dramatically."
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10-18-2004, 03:36 AM
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#10 of 12
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Yee Ming Lim
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To me, I'd say the first version, but what do I know?
Where's Rex Bachman, the grammar expert of HTF?
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