Is this a correct use of the word “why”?
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My colleagues keep using the word ”why” in a really strange way when writing reports and I’m 95% sure it’s incorrect, but I could use a second opinion just to be certain. What they do is they substitute “which is why” with just “why”.
For example:
"Valve A and B are both the same shape and color, why they can easily be confused.”
Surely this can't be correct.
word-choice
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
add a comment |
My colleagues keep using the word ”why” in a really strange way when writing reports and I’m 95% sure it’s incorrect, but I could use a second opinion just to be certain. What they do is they substitute “which is why” with just “why”.
For example:
"Valve A and B are both the same shape and color, why they can easily be confused.”
Surely this can't be correct.
word-choice
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
3
Yeah, that's definitely wrong.
– AleksandrH
May 17 at 14:49
Thanks! Needed a sanity check just to be sure.
– mithrandir
May 17 at 15:06
You don't say whether the use is in speech or in writing. You also don't say whether the speech group is composed of native English speakers or not, nor of which dialect or native language. You may well have misheard them; that's very common. If it matters to you, ask them to write down what they just said if it's speech, or pronounce it out loud if it's written. You may be surprised.
– John Lawler
May 17 at 15:16
I did state that the use is in writing. They are not native English speakers.
– mithrandir
May 21 at 8:50
add a comment |
My colleagues keep using the word ”why” in a really strange way when writing reports and I’m 95% sure it’s incorrect, but I could use a second opinion just to be certain. What they do is they substitute “which is why” with just “why”.
For example:
"Valve A and B are both the same shape and color, why they can easily be confused.”
Surely this can't be correct.
word-choice
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
My colleagues keep using the word ”why” in a really strange way when writing reports and I’m 95% sure it’s incorrect, but I could use a second opinion just to be certain. What they do is they substitute “which is why” with just “why”.
For example:
"Valve A and B are both the same shape and color, why they can easily be confused.”
Surely this can't be correct.
word-choice
word-choice
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
asked May 17 at 14:40
mithrandirmithrandir
31
31
3
Yeah, that's definitely wrong.
– AleksandrH
May 17 at 14:49
Thanks! Needed a sanity check just to be sure.
– mithrandir
May 17 at 15:06
You don't say whether the use is in speech or in writing. You also don't say whether the speech group is composed of native English speakers or not, nor of which dialect or native language. You may well have misheard them; that's very common. If it matters to you, ask them to write down what they just said if it's speech, or pronounce it out loud if it's written. You may be surprised.
– John Lawler
May 17 at 15:16
I did state that the use is in writing. They are not native English speakers.
– mithrandir
May 21 at 8:50
add a comment |
3
Yeah, that's definitely wrong.
– AleksandrH
May 17 at 14:49
Thanks! Needed a sanity check just to be sure.
– mithrandir
May 17 at 15:06
You don't say whether the use is in speech or in writing. You also don't say whether the speech group is composed of native English speakers or not, nor of which dialect or native language. You may well have misheard them; that's very common. If it matters to you, ask them to write down what they just said if it's speech, or pronounce it out loud if it's written. You may be surprised.
– John Lawler
May 17 at 15:16
I did state that the use is in writing. They are not native English speakers.
– mithrandir
May 21 at 8:50
3
3
Yeah, that's definitely wrong.
– AleksandrH
May 17 at 14:49
Yeah, that's definitely wrong.
– AleksandrH
May 17 at 14:49
Thanks! Needed a sanity check just to be sure.
– mithrandir
May 17 at 15:06
Thanks! Needed a sanity check just to be sure.
– mithrandir
May 17 at 15:06
You don't say whether the use is in speech or in writing. You also don't say whether the speech group is composed of native English speakers or not, nor of which dialect or native language. You may well have misheard them; that's very common. If it matters to you, ask them to write down what they just said if it's speech, or pronounce it out loud if it's written. You may be surprised.
– John Lawler
May 17 at 15:16
You don't say whether the use is in speech or in writing. You also don't say whether the speech group is composed of native English speakers or not, nor of which dialect or native language. You may well have misheard them; that's very common. If it matters to you, ask them to write down what they just said if it's speech, or pronounce it out loud if it's written. You may be surprised.
– John Lawler
May 17 at 15:16
I did state that the use is in writing. They are not native English speakers.
– mithrandir
May 21 at 8:50
I did state that the use is in writing. They are not native English speakers.
– mithrandir
May 21 at 8:50
add a comment |
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3
Yeah, that's definitely wrong.
– AleksandrH
May 17 at 14:49
Thanks! Needed a sanity check just to be sure.
– mithrandir
May 17 at 15:06
You don't say whether the use is in speech or in writing. You also don't say whether the speech group is composed of native English speakers or not, nor of which dialect or native language. You may well have misheard them; that's very common. If it matters to you, ask them to write down what they just said if it's speech, or pronounce it out loud if it's written. You may be surprised.
– John Lawler
May 17 at 15:16
I did state that the use is in writing. They are not native English speakers.
– mithrandir
May 21 at 8:50