|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018
Posts: 1,821
Neurons: 8,268
Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
|
Hi,
Is 'far from too many' natural English in the following?
Undoubtedly, far from too many recyclables are thrown away with the general waste and, as a result, damage the environment. To address this problem, we need to first consider the reason behind people’s reluctance to recycle. One possible issue may be the process itself, which usually requires us to clean and sort waste into different categories based on their material. This is both time-consuming and confusing if we do not know whether certain types of glass, plastic or paper are recyclable or not. We naturally avoid tasks that take up too much time, so it is not surprising that so many people simply throw all their rubbish away in the same bin.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/8/2010
Posts: 23,388
Neurons: 94,875
|
It is the opposite of 'far from'.
Far too many recyclables are out into the main waste stream.
Too many - by far.
Far from enough people understand how important it is to recycle.
Not enough - by far. A grossly insufficient number of people.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018
Posts: 1,821
Neurons: 8,268
Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
|
Far from enough ->not enough
Far from too many -> not too many
Right?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/14/2009
Posts: 18,343
Neurons: 59,641
Location: Brighton, England, United Kingdom
|
Yes, that's right.
But it's such a totally unwarranted way to twist words around?
I can only guess that somewhere, previously mentioned, is an opinion or a misconception stating that 'too many' recyclables are thrown away. She's referring back to that and refuting it: it's not true that too many recyclables are thrown out; in fact the number of recyclables that are thrown out is not 'too many' at all.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018
Posts: 1,821
Neurons: 8,268
Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
|
Thank you for the response. Here is the previous (introductory) paragraph:
Recycling waste materials should help tackle the mountains of domestic rubbish produced each year and our depleting natural resources. However, recycling programmes need the full cooperation of residents if they are to be effective. The question here is whether this can only be achieved by imposing restrictions.
Undoubtedly, far from too many recyclables are thrown away with the general waste and, as a result, damage the environment. To address this problem, we need to first consider the reason behind people’s reluctance to recycle. One possible issue may be the process itself, which usually requires us to clean and sort waste into different categories based on their material. This is both time-consuming and confusing if we do not know whether certain types of glass, plastic or paper are recyclable or not. We naturally avoid tasks that take up too much time, so it is not surprising that so many people simply throw all their rubbish away in the same bin.
________________________________
But I still cannot clearly understand the true message behind that line.
It says, "not too many recyclables are thrown away with the general waste... to address this problem..."
Is it really a problem? Does the writer mean we should throw away too many recyclables to address the problem?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018
Posts: 1,821
Neurons: 8,268
Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
|
Wouldn't it make more sense were 'far from' were dropped?-
Undoubtedly, too many recyclables are thrown away with the general waste and, as a result, damage the environment. To address this problem, we need to first consider the reason behind people’s reluctance to recycle. One possible issue may be the process itself, which usually requires us to clean and sort waste into different categories based on their material. This is both time-consuming and confusing if we do not know whether certain types of glass, plastic or paper are recyclable or not. We naturally avoid tasks that take up too much time, so it is not surprising that so many people simply throw all their rubbish away in the same bin.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/24/2011
Posts: 7,001
Neurons: 1,311,840
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
|
If the text actually says "far from too many", it is a mistake. The correct wording is "far too many". "Far" here is an adverb intensifying "too many".
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/14/2009
Posts: 18,343
Neurons: 59,641
Location: Brighton, England, United Kingdom
|
Auds -
I wouldn't tell Attaturk it was wrong - I speculated on the reason it was used here and illustrated how it could be used absolutely validly. i.e. there's nothing wrong with it, in context:
I can only guess that somewhere, previously mentioned, is an opinion or a misconception stating that 'too many' recyclables are thrown away. She's referring back to that and refuting it: it's not true that too many recyclables are thrown out; in fact the number of recyclables that are thrown out is not 'too many' at all.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018
Posts: 1,821
Neurons: 8,268
Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
|
Romany wrote:
Auds -
I wouldn't tell Attaturk it was wrong - I speculated on the reason it was used here and illustrated how it could be used absolutely validly. i.e. there's nothing wrong with it, in context:
[i]I can only guess that somewhere, previously mentioned, is an opinion or a misconception stating that 'too many' recyclables are thrown away. She's referring back to that and refuting it: it's not true that too many recyclables are thrown out; in fact the number of recyclables that are thrown out is not 'too many' at all.
[/i]
Thank you Romany. But there's nothing as such in the previous paragraph, which I sent above. Now would you say it is wrong?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/24/2011
Posts: 7,001
Neurons: 1,311,840
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
|
Romany wrote:I can only guess that somewhere, previously mentioned, is an opinion or a misconception stating that 'too many' recyclables are thrown away. She's referring back to that and refuting it: it's not true that too many recyclables are thrown out; in fact the number of recyclables that are thrown out is not 'too many' at all.
But the next sentence states: To address this problem, we need to first consider the reason behind people's reluctance to recycle.So, not enough recyclables are actually recycled; (far) too many are thrown out. (Ideally, none should be thrown out; they should all be recycled.)
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018
Posts: 1,821
Neurons: 8,268
Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
|
Audiendus wrote:Romany wrote:I can only guess that somewhere, previously mentioned, is an opinion or a misconception stating that 'too many' recyclables are thrown away. She's referring back to that and refuting it: it's not true that too many recyclables are thrown out; in fact the number of recyclables that are thrown out is not 'too many' at all.
But the next sentence states: To address this problem, we need to first consider the reason behind people's reluctance to recycle.So, not enough recyclables are actually recycled; (far) too many are thrown out. (Ideally, none should be thrown out; they should all be recycled.) Thank you very much, Audiendus. I see eye to eye with you exactly.
|
|
|
Guest |