Prepositions are usually thought of as common workmanlike words that allow writing to flow. But sometimes they have surprising significance.
Let's think about coronavirus deaths and death certificates. It might be said of a victim that he or she died of coronavirus or from coronavirus. In both cases the preposition indicates that the death was down to coronavirus. It was COVID that done it.
But equally it might be said that the deceased passed away with coronavirus. In this case COVID may not be the villain. It could be some other condition that caused the death - like heart disease or cancer. Just because coronavirus was present does not mean it was to blame.
When it comes to counting the dead, the selected preposition becomes important. Increasingly, it seems that there are arithmetical disparities between nations that result in both under-counting and over-counting of the dead. A lot of this is to do with how prepositions are interpreted.
Currently, Russia is admitting to just over 600,000 COVID cases. Great Britain has had just over 300,000 cases. And yet when it comes to death tolls, Russia indicates that as few as 8513 citizens have died of the disease but Great Britain has lost 43,081 citizens. Where is the mathematical logic in that? It doesn't make sense.
Clearly Russia is playing games with the truth. Quite possibly, it is scared by the truth, fearing the vulnerability it would reveal to all and sundry.
Nice grammar lesson. I'm one of those who thinks that grammar should still be taught.
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Your obsession with figures is fascinating. Why do you care so much about actual numbers? People die. They are dead. That Covid may have hastened their demise is, obviously, not exactly a cause for celebration. Or, maybe, for some it is.
ReplyDeleteAnd just to balance the books, do remember that pneumonia, now there is an age old short cut to a long life, is called "the old man's friend". No outrage there, is there? Just acceptance.
U
I am not obsessed with numbers - just interested in them as they reveal patterns and certain truths. It's surprising to me that you appear quite dismissive of numbers.
DeleteNumbers and grammar are wonderful things.
DeleteUrsula mentioned pneumonia.
DeleteI had to ask for the pneumococcal vaccine. The receptionist in my doctor's surgery (Glasgow: Scotland) had never heard of it. *You mean the FLU vaccine,* she said. No, I replied, the pneumonia vaccine. *You mean the FLU vaccine,* she repeated as if I were a slow child. It took the doctor to convince her.
I am aged 69 and in good health (so far) and I don't need any medication. But I noticed there were no posters in the waiting room about the pneumococcal vaccine. A friend of mine in her 40s was hospitalised with pneumonia a few years ago; yet she has never been vaccinated; she hadn't heard of the pneumococcal vaccine till I told her.
Is this about cost? Vaccines are expensive after all. Still, pneumonia can kill the young and strong, even without the Wuhan virus.
John
Cost and information I guess John.
DeleteHonestly, I almost laugh when I look at the stats for China. Population one cajillion and 4,600 deaths with no heads up or anything. Astonishing!!! I guess it proves that there government is superior to all others 😜
ReplyDeleteThere are truths within truths and lies within truths too.
DeleteLies, damn lies and statistics. ~Twain
DeleteWe are talking grammar and auto correct gave me the wrong “their”. Feeling rather ashamed right now.
DeleteNever mind Linda. I knew what you meant and that is the main thing.
DeleteI agree with Red. Grammar should still be taught, and taught properly.
ReplyDeleteIn my line of work, I have a lot to read (and write) that has legal implications on my clients, their employees and their customers. It means I have to be extra precise and careful in the wording and phrasing of each document; when there is room left for interpretation, you can be sure it will always be (ab)used.
When I wrote essays at university, every word counted. I pondered over each one, honing them like a craftsman.
DeleteI don't believe any numbers relating to the virus any more, it's like they draw them out of a hat. Litton and Cressbook are very nice places to walk by the way.
ReplyDeleteIn this summery heat, Cressbrookdale and Miller's Dale were dreamlike on Tuesday. Belgium appears to be the most honest country when it comes to recording COVID deaths or are they perhaps over-counting?
DeleteTut, tut. Manipulating figures? Up with this we shall not put.
ReplyDeleteThe Isle of Man government is the worst. They claim that only 24 have died but that is how many are left! Fortunately Lord and Lady Falcon of Peel are amongst the survivors.
DeleteThe kind of deception up with which we should not put.
ReplyDeleteTruth speak do you innit.
DeleteThe English Covoid death stats are terrible compared to countries like Japan or Ireland.
ReplyDeleteJohnson and Hancock made big mistakes but will not even say "sorry".
DeleteCome June 30th, Trump and his idiot minions will be cutting off any funding for test sites ... we'll see where the counting goes from there!
ReplyDeleteTrump is like The Pied Piper of Hamelin. The cave is opening up.
DeleteAs our famous 16th president Abraham Lincoln once said, "Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the preposition that all men are created equal."
ReplyDeleteYou know I'm kidding.
You are like the Lenny Bruce of the blogosphere Bob!
DeleteNot to mention those infuriating people who write "I should of said something". They clearly didn't pay attention in school. As for the Covid statistics, someone is telling porky pies. I think we have been honest, but other countries are economical with the truth.
ReplyDeleteBelgium leads the way with its honest reporting. Britain isn't too far behind.
DeleteA very clever way to back into the coronavirus numbers controversy! You weren't a teacher or anything, were you? (Ha!)
ReplyDeleteYou can read me like a book Steve! But I don't know the title of that book - perhaps 'A Beautiful Mind' by Sylvia Nasar.
DeleteI am probably an infuriating person, so least said the better ;) But what do you think of people who start a sentence with 'And'.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of people who - before they have made their point - start a sentence with "But"? Such a superfluous three letters. Let the editor strike: "What do you think of people who start a sentence with 'And'." So much more poignant, Thelma, don't you think?
DeleteU
Grammar is always evolving. I have no problem with controlled use of "And" or "But" to begin sentences. I do this myself from time to time, fully aware that traditionalists may be offended.
DeleteYou may already be following this, but in at least some countries they are now looking at what is called excess deaths - the number of deaths being reported that is greater than expected (based on some kind of averaging of previous years). The resulting excess is being further analyzed to try to tease out how many of those excess deaths are due to coronovirus and how many are from other causes related to people waiting too long to get health care because they were afraid to go to the hospital.
ReplyDeleteWhen each country reports deaths differently it's difficult to make a meaningful comparison. Even the way deaths have been presented in the news is misleading. People insist on comparing number of deaths when it is the ratio (or percentage) of deaths to population that must be used for comparison.
It's a statistical Pandora's Box. Truth has escaped and we don't know where to find it.
DeleteA can of worms if ever there was one.
ReplyDeletePrepositions are like Scottish midges in the summer. Irritating little devils.
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