Is the word “particularly” an odd choice?
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I came across this sentence in something I am editing:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are particularly lower than expected.
Am I wrong to object to the use of “particularly” in this sentence? I think it sounds odd, a little stilted, and I would like to recommend that the writer use “much” instead:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are much lower than expected.
That sounds more natural to me. But does the sentence lose something by switching from “particularly” to “much”?
word-choice
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
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I came across this sentence in something I am editing:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are particularly lower than expected.
Am I wrong to object to the use of “particularly” in this sentence? I think it sounds odd, a little stilted, and I would like to recommend that the writer use “much” instead:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are much lower than expected.
That sounds more natural to me. But does the sentence lose something by switching from “particularly” to “much”?
word-choice
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
what has your dictionary search revealed?
– lbf
May 28 at 20:25
My dictionary doesn’t object to the use, but it doesn't tell me if this is an unusual construction or if it’s elegant or not.
– debbiesym
May 28 at 20:30
as I suspected ... your question will likely be deemed off topic as it is a matter of opinion.
– lbf
May 28 at 20:33
3
The problem is that particularly should be used with the positive form, not the comparative. "Particularly low" works fine, but "particularly lower" is awful.
– Robusto
May 28 at 21:53
Are you sure the intended meaning is are much lower than expected. Obviously I only have that snippet to go on, but I would guess the writer was trying to draw special attention to the fact that opportunities in manufacturing are lower than expected, or say that although opportunties are lower than expected in several sectors, it is particularly true of manufacturing. Maybe opportunities in the manufacturing sector, in particular, are lower than expected.
– user339660
May 29 at 0:55
add a comment
|
I came across this sentence in something I am editing:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are particularly lower than expected.
Am I wrong to object to the use of “particularly” in this sentence? I think it sounds odd, a little stilted, and I would like to recommend that the writer use “much” instead:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are much lower than expected.
That sounds more natural to me. But does the sentence lose something by switching from “particularly” to “much”?
word-choice
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
I came across this sentence in something I am editing:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are particularly lower than expected.
Am I wrong to object to the use of “particularly” in this sentence? I think it sounds odd, a little stilted, and I would like to recommend that the writer use “much” instead:
... his opportunities in the manufacturing industry are much lower than expected.
That sounds more natural to me. But does the sentence lose something by switching from “particularly” to “much”?
word-choice
word-choice
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 20:17
debbiesymdebbiesym
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
4813 gold badges7 silver badges20 bronze badges
what has your dictionary search revealed?
– lbf
May 28 at 20:25
My dictionary doesn’t object to the use, but it doesn't tell me if this is an unusual construction or if it’s elegant or not.
– debbiesym
May 28 at 20:30
as I suspected ... your question will likely be deemed off topic as it is a matter of opinion.
– lbf
May 28 at 20:33
3
The problem is that particularly should be used with the positive form, not the comparative. "Particularly low" works fine, but "particularly lower" is awful.
– Robusto
May 28 at 21:53
Are you sure the intended meaning is are much lower than expected. Obviously I only have that snippet to go on, but I would guess the writer was trying to draw special attention to the fact that opportunities in manufacturing are lower than expected, or say that although opportunties are lower than expected in several sectors, it is particularly true of manufacturing. Maybe opportunities in the manufacturing sector, in particular, are lower than expected.
– user339660
May 29 at 0:55
add a comment
|
what has your dictionary search revealed?
– lbf
May 28 at 20:25
My dictionary doesn’t object to the use, but it doesn't tell me if this is an unusual construction or if it’s elegant or not.
– debbiesym
May 28 at 20:30
as I suspected ... your question will likely be deemed off topic as it is a matter of opinion.
– lbf
May 28 at 20:33
3
The problem is that particularly should be used with the positive form, not the comparative. "Particularly low" works fine, but "particularly lower" is awful.
– Robusto
May 28 at 21:53
Are you sure the intended meaning is are much lower than expected. Obviously I only have that snippet to go on, but I would guess the writer was trying to draw special attention to the fact that opportunities in manufacturing are lower than expected, or say that although opportunties are lower than expected in several sectors, it is particularly true of manufacturing. Maybe opportunities in the manufacturing sector, in particular, are lower than expected.
– user339660
May 29 at 0:55
what has your dictionary search revealed?
– lbf
May 28 at 20:25
what has your dictionary search revealed?
– lbf
May 28 at 20:25
My dictionary doesn’t object to the use, but it doesn't tell me if this is an unusual construction or if it’s elegant or not.
– debbiesym
May 28 at 20:30
My dictionary doesn’t object to the use, but it doesn't tell me if this is an unusual construction or if it’s elegant or not.
– debbiesym
May 28 at 20:30
as I suspected ... your question will likely be deemed off topic as it is a matter of opinion.
– lbf
May 28 at 20:33
as I suspected ... your question will likely be deemed off topic as it is a matter of opinion.
– lbf
May 28 at 20:33
3
3
The problem is that particularly should be used with the positive form, not the comparative. "Particularly low" works fine, but "particularly lower" is awful.
– Robusto
May 28 at 21:53
The problem is that particularly should be used with the positive form, not the comparative. "Particularly low" works fine, but "particularly lower" is awful.
– Robusto
May 28 at 21:53
Are you sure the intended meaning is are much lower than expected. Obviously I only have that snippet to go on, but I would guess the writer was trying to draw special attention to the fact that opportunities in manufacturing are lower than expected, or say that although opportunties are lower than expected in several sectors, it is particularly true of manufacturing. Maybe opportunities in the manufacturing sector, in particular, are lower than expected.
– user339660
May 29 at 0:55
Are you sure the intended meaning is are much lower than expected. Obviously I only have that snippet to go on, but I would guess the writer was trying to draw special attention to the fact that opportunities in manufacturing are lower than expected, or say that although opportunties are lower than expected in several sectors, it is particularly true of manufacturing. Maybe opportunities in the manufacturing sector, in particular, are lower than expected.
– user339660
May 29 at 0:55
add a comment
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2 Answers
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It is not incorrect, but it is an unusual formulation.
The OED has "To a special degree; to a higher degree than usual; more than in other cases; especially, markedly, notably; much, very." as the third definition, but is usually applied positively: "particularly abundant", "particularly useful", "particularly intelligent", etc.
To me, using particularly in "particularly lower" grates. I would challenge the author to come up with a more suitable adverb, as you suggest ("much", or "significantly").
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
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I might guess the author intended something more like:
... his opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing industry, are
lower than expected.
but you may well be correct; it's an improvement in any case.
answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
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active
oldest
votes
It is not incorrect, but it is an unusual formulation.
The OED has "To a special degree; to a higher degree than usual; more than in other cases; especially, markedly, notably; much, very." as the third definition, but is usually applied positively: "particularly abundant", "particularly useful", "particularly intelligent", etc.
To me, using particularly in "particularly lower" grates. I would challenge the author to come up with a more suitable adverb, as you suggest ("much", or "significantly").
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
6225 silver badges10 bronze badges
add a comment
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It is not incorrect, but it is an unusual formulation.
The OED has "To a special degree; to a higher degree than usual; more than in other cases; especially, markedly, notably; much, very." as the third definition, but is usually applied positively: "particularly abundant", "particularly useful", "particularly intelligent", etc.
To me, using particularly in "particularly lower" grates. I would challenge the author to come up with a more suitable adverb, as you suggest ("much", or "significantly").
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
6225 silver badges10 bronze badges
add a comment
|
It is not incorrect, but it is an unusual formulation.
The OED has "To a special degree; to a higher degree than usual; more than in other cases; especially, markedly, notably; much, very." as the third definition, but is usually applied positively: "particularly abundant", "particularly useful", "particularly intelligent", etc.
To me, using particularly in "particularly lower" grates. I would challenge the author to come up with a more suitable adverb, as you suggest ("much", or "significantly").
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
6225 silver badges10 bronze badges
It is not incorrect, but it is an unusual formulation.
The OED has "To a special degree; to a higher degree than usual; more than in other cases; especially, markedly, notably; much, very." as the third definition, but is usually applied positively: "particularly abundant", "particularly useful", "particularly intelligent", etc.
To me, using particularly in "particularly lower" grates. I would challenge the author to come up with a more suitable adverb, as you suggest ("much", or "significantly").
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
6225 silver badges10 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
6225 silver badges10 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
6225 silver badges10 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 20:34
D MacD Mac
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add a comment
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I might guess the author intended something more like:
... his opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing industry, are
lower than expected.
but you may well be correct; it's an improvement in any case.
answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
1,2452 silver badges12 bronze badges
add a comment
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I might guess the author intended something more like:
... his opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing industry, are
lower than expected.
but you may well be correct; it's an improvement in any case.
answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
1,2452 silver badges12 bronze badges
add a comment
|
I might guess the author intended something more like:
... his opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing industry, are
lower than expected.
but you may well be correct; it's an improvement in any case.
answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
1,2452 silver badges12 bronze badges
I might guess the author intended something more like:
... his opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing industry, are
lower than expected.
but you may well be correct; it's an improvement in any case.
answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
1,2452 silver badges12 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
1,2452 silver badges12 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
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answered May 28 at 21:45
RogerRoger
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add a comment
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what has your dictionary search revealed?
– lbf
May 28 at 20:25
My dictionary doesn’t object to the use, but it doesn't tell me if this is an unusual construction or if it’s elegant or not.
– debbiesym
May 28 at 20:30
as I suspected ... your question will likely be deemed off topic as it is a matter of opinion.
– lbf
May 28 at 20:33
3
The problem is that particularly should be used with the positive form, not the comparative. "Particularly low" works fine, but "particularly lower" is awful.
– Robusto
May 28 at 21:53
Are you sure the intended meaning is are much lower than expected. Obviously I only have that snippet to go on, but I would guess the writer was trying to draw special attention to the fact that opportunities in manufacturing are lower than expected, or say that although opportunties are lower than expected in several sectors, it is particularly true of manufacturing. Maybe opportunities in the manufacturing sector, in particular, are lower than expected.
– user339660
May 29 at 0:55