[Grammar] looting or desecration of religious buildings?

[rainous]

"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting or desecration of religious buildings?"

In the sentence above, does "looting" get hooked up with "of religious buildings" or stand on it own?


thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's ambiguous, rainous.

A comma after looting would isolate it, but as it stands it's not clear.

Rover

 

[Raymott]

"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting or desecration of religious buildings?"

In the sentence above, does "looting" get hooked up with "of religious buildings" or stand on it own?


thanks.

I would say that 'looting' stands alone.
If 'looting or desecration of religious buildings" was meant, the sentence is not grammatical. It would have to read like this:
"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, or looting or desecration of religious buildings?"
That is, "Have you ever seen A or B". The original sentence reads "Have you ever witnessed A, B" (if you assume that 'looting' belongs with 'desecration').
This is a good example of the need to use serial commas sometimes, and I believe, of the advisability of always using them.

 

[bhaisahab]

I would say that 'looting' stands alone.
If 'looting or desecration of religious buildings" was meant, the sentence is not grammatical. It would have to read like this:
"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, or looting or desecration of religious buildings?"
That is, "Have you ever seen A or B". The original sentence reads "Have you ever witnessed A, B" (if you assume that 'looting' belongs with 'desecration').
This is a good example of the need to use serial commas sometimes, and I believe, of the advisability of always using them.

"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting or desecration of religious buildings?"
It's from the application form for immigration to Canada, and it's written exactly as above.;-)

 

[Raymott]

"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting or desecration of religious buildings?"
It's from the application form for immigration to Canada, and it's written exactly as above.;-)

Yes, that's OK. Assuming that they've written what is meant, they are interested in three separate things; and they haven't used a serial comma, thus making it ambiguous to some.
I wasn't saying it's wrong. But it is wrong if they meant "[looting or desecration] of religious buildings."
If they mean [looting] or [desecration of religious buildings], it's right.

That's what the original question was asking.

 

[BobK]

"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting or desecration of religious buildings?"
It's from the application form for immigration to Canada, and it's written exactly as above.;-)

I suspect a runaway grammar-checker, or maybe a self-styled 'stylist' (who thought that having to 'or's was something to avoid). ;-)

b

 

[Raymott]

I suspect a runaway grammar-checker, or maybe a self-styled 'stylist' (who thought that having to 'or's was something to avoid). ;-)

b

I don't know. Do Canadians use the Oxford comma? If not, then it's correct.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Have you ever witnessed or participated in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting or desecration of religious buildings?"
It's from the application form for immigration to Canada, and it's written exactly as above.;-)

Regardless of comma usage, I think you should say "no" if you want to be let in.

 

[Barb_D]

This is a good example of the need to use serial commas sometimes, and I believe, of the advisability of always using them.

If the serial comma had a fan page on Facebook, I'd "like" it!

 

[Barb_D]

Check it out: The Oxford comma commotion: To use, or not to use? - Yahoo! News

 

[bhaisahab]

Regardless of comma usage, I think you should say "no" if you want to be let in.

This is an interesting question from the US visa application form, best to answer "no" here as well I think.

• Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in export control violations, subversive or terrorist activities, or any other unlawful purpose? Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization as currently designated by the U.S. Secretary of State? Have you ever participated in persecutions directed by the Nazi government of Germany; or have you ever participated in genocide? Have you ever participated in, ordered, or engaged in genocide, torture, or extrajudicial killings?

 

[BobK]

One good link deserves another: The Oxford Comma: Hart’s Rules | OxfordWords blog

b

 

[emsr2d2]

This is an interesting question from the US visa application form, best to answer "no" here as well I think.

• Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in export control violations, subversive or terrorist activities, or any other unlawful purpose? Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization as currently designated by the U.S. Secretary of State? Have you ever participated in persecutions directed by the Nazi government of Germany; or have you ever participated in genocide? Have you ever participated in, ordered, or engaged in genocide, torture, or extrajudicial killings?

I've always wondered what special kind of idiot it would take to answer "Yes" to that question.

 

[bhaisahab]

I've always wondered what special kind of idiot it would take to answer "Yes" to that question.

I recently transported some furniture from my house in France to England. At the ferry port the French custome officer asked me, "Do you have any drugs, arms, or explosives in your vehicle?";-)

 

[SoothingDave]

Those types of questions are not designed to elicit honest answers, they are designed to create perjury charges. So if you are caught here engaging in terrorism, they can also charge you with perjury.


There are similar questions on the federal forms filled out when purchasing a firearm. Are you a convicted felon? Have you been committed to a mental institution?, etc.

 

[emsr2d2]

I recently transported some furniture from my house in France to England. At the ferry port the French custome officer asked me, "Do you have any drugs, arms, or explosives in your vehicle?";-)

You should have said yes to "arms" then. Assuming you had either a sofa, an armchair or some dining chairs!

 

[emsr2d2]

Those types of questions are not designed to elicit honest answers, they are designed to create perjury charges. So if you are caught here engaging in terrorism, they can also charge you with perjury.


There are similar questions on the federal forms filled out when purchasing a firearm. Are you a convicted felon? Have you been committed to a mental institution?, etc.

The reason for them is clear but I would love to know if anyone has ever been stupid enough to answer "Yes".

 

[bhaisahab]

You should have said yes to "arms" then. Assuming you had either a sofa, an armchair or some dining chairs!

Yes, but he was speaking French. In French "arm" (weapon) is "arme" and "arm" (limb) is "bras"

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, but he was speaking French. In French "arm" (weapon) is "arme" and "arm" (limb) is "bras"

I know! Maybe to confuse the issue (if there was a woman and some clothing in the car) you should have said you had some bras too!

 

[BobK]

I've always wondered what special kind of idiot it would take to answer "Yes" to that question.

Some stand-up - it may have been Rich Hall - answered 'For that express purpose', and was strip-searched for his pains.

b