Choosing the most idiomatic sentence
Which one is more idiomatic?
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modeling competition.
OR
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modeling competition.
word-usage idioms
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
add a comment |
Which one is more idiomatic?
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modeling competition.
OR
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modeling competition.
word-usage idioms
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
When you ask which is more popular, you're asking which is more likely to be used?
– KillingTime
Mar 16 at 8:27
I wouldn't say that either is popular. Perhaps my achievement was first prize, but even that sounds a little strange. Far more likely is simply I won first prize or I came in first (depending on the competition).
– Jason Bassford
Mar 16 at 8:27
@KillingTime Yes I am.
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:01
@JasonBassford Thank you. I have modified the sentence a bit. Does it look less strange now?
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:06
'achievement' and 'winning' are both activities. 'prize' is more likely a physical object.
– AmI
Mar 17 at 10:08
add a comment |
Which one is more idiomatic?
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modeling competition.
OR
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modeling competition.
word-usage idioms
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
Which one is more idiomatic?
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modeling competition.
OR
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modeling competition.
word-usage idioms
word-usage idioms
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
edited Mar 17 at 10:04
李新潍
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
asked Mar 16 at 4:44
李新潍李新潍
13
13
When you ask which is more popular, you're asking which is more likely to be used?
– KillingTime
Mar 16 at 8:27
I wouldn't say that either is popular. Perhaps my achievement was first prize, but even that sounds a little strange. Far more likely is simply I won first prize or I came in first (depending on the competition).
– Jason Bassford
Mar 16 at 8:27
@KillingTime Yes I am.
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:01
@JasonBassford Thank you. I have modified the sentence a bit. Does it look less strange now?
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:06
'achievement' and 'winning' are both activities. 'prize' is more likely a physical object.
– AmI
Mar 17 at 10:08
add a comment |
When you ask which is more popular, you're asking which is more likely to be used?
– KillingTime
Mar 16 at 8:27
I wouldn't say that either is popular. Perhaps my achievement was first prize, but even that sounds a little strange. Far more likely is simply I won first prize or I came in first (depending on the competition).
– Jason Bassford
Mar 16 at 8:27
@KillingTime Yes I am.
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:01
@JasonBassford Thank you. I have modified the sentence a bit. Does it look less strange now?
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:06
'achievement' and 'winning' are both activities. 'prize' is more likely a physical object.
– AmI
Mar 17 at 10:08
When you ask which is more popular, you're asking which is more likely to be used?
– KillingTime
Mar 16 at 8:27
When you ask which is more popular, you're asking which is more likely to be used?
– KillingTime
Mar 16 at 8:27
I wouldn't say that either is popular. Perhaps my achievement was first prize, but even that sounds a little strange. Far more likely is simply I won first prize or I came in first (depending on the competition).
– Jason Bassford
Mar 16 at 8:27
I wouldn't say that either is popular. Perhaps my achievement was first prize, but even that sounds a little strange. Far more likely is simply I won first prize or I came in first (depending on the competition).
– Jason Bassford
Mar 16 at 8:27
@KillingTime Yes I am.
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:01
@KillingTime Yes I am.
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:01
@JasonBassford Thank you. I have modified the sentence a bit. Does it look less strange now?
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:06
@JasonBassford Thank you. I have modified the sentence a bit. Does it look less strange now?
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:06
'achievement' and 'winning' are both activities. 'prize' is more likely a physical object.
– AmI
Mar 17 at 10:08
'achievement' and 'winning' are both activities. 'prize' is more likely a physical object.
– AmI
Mar 17 at 10:08
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
It's not a question of popularity or idiomaticity; they're just different ways of saying the same thing.
No-one is going to frown upon
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modelling competition.
Nor will they frown upon
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modelling competition.
It is quite clear that the first sentence means 'I won first prize'. Personally, I would remove the word 'the' in both sentences if you want to be completely idiomatic.
The verb 'winning' is superfluous; it neither adds nor takes from the meaning.
My sentence of choice would be
My greatest achievement is first prize in a modelling competition.
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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oldest
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votes
It's not a question of popularity or idiomaticity; they're just different ways of saying the same thing.
No-one is going to frown upon
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modelling competition.
Nor will they frown upon
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modelling competition.
It is quite clear that the first sentence means 'I won first prize'. Personally, I would remove the word 'the' in both sentences if you want to be completely idiomatic.
The verb 'winning' is superfluous; it neither adds nor takes from the meaning.
My sentence of choice would be
My greatest achievement is first prize in a modelling competition.
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
add a comment |
It's not a question of popularity or idiomaticity; they're just different ways of saying the same thing.
No-one is going to frown upon
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modelling competition.
Nor will they frown upon
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modelling competition.
It is quite clear that the first sentence means 'I won first prize'. Personally, I would remove the word 'the' in both sentences if you want to be completely idiomatic.
The verb 'winning' is superfluous; it neither adds nor takes from the meaning.
My sentence of choice would be
My greatest achievement is first prize in a modelling competition.
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
add a comment |
It's not a question of popularity or idiomaticity; they're just different ways of saying the same thing.
No-one is going to frown upon
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modelling competition.
Nor will they frown upon
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modelling competition.
It is quite clear that the first sentence means 'I won first prize'. Personally, I would remove the word 'the' in both sentences if you want to be completely idiomatic.
The verb 'winning' is superfluous; it neither adds nor takes from the meaning.
My sentence of choice would be
My greatest achievement is first prize in a modelling competition.
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
It's not a question of popularity or idiomaticity; they're just different ways of saying the same thing.
No-one is going to frown upon
My greatest achievement is the first prize in a modelling competition.
Nor will they frown upon
My greatest achievement is winning the first prize in a modelling competition.
It is quite clear that the first sentence means 'I won first prize'. Personally, I would remove the word 'the' in both sentences if you want to be completely idiomatic.
The verb 'winning' is superfluous; it neither adds nor takes from the meaning.
My sentence of choice would be
My greatest achievement is first prize in a modelling competition.
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
answered Mar 17 at 16:21
LordologyLordology
1,389117
1,389117
add a comment |
add a comment |
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When you ask which is more popular, you're asking which is more likely to be used?
– KillingTime
Mar 16 at 8:27
I wouldn't say that either is popular. Perhaps my achievement was first prize, but even that sounds a little strange. Far more likely is simply I won first prize or I came in first (depending on the competition).
– Jason Bassford
Mar 16 at 8:27
@KillingTime Yes I am.
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:01
@JasonBassford Thank you. I have modified the sentence a bit. Does it look less strange now?
– 李新潍
Mar 17 at 10:06
'achievement' and 'winning' are both activities. 'prize' is more likely a physical object.
– AmI
Mar 17 at 10:08