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A question of grammar

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  • R Ravi Bhavnani

    Which do you think reads better?

    1. "It only takes a minute!"
    2. "It takes only a minute!"

    This isn't a homework problem. :) /ravi

    My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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    Tim Deveaux
    wrote on last edited by
    #9

    Either way not the best pick up line :-O .

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    • T Tim Deveaux

      Either way not the best pick up line :-O .

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      Ravi Bhavnani
      wrote on last edited by
      #10

      Agreed.  But it sure helps when you're trying to get someone to complete an online survey. :-D /ravi

      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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      • R Ravi Bhavnani

        Agreed.  But it sure helps when you're trying to get someone to complete an online survey. :-D /ravi

        My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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        Tim Deveaux
        wrote on last edited by
        #11

        Ah - a context! Yes, I think too best is 1.

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        • T Tim Deveaux

          Either way not the best pick up line :-O .

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          Nish Nishant
          wrote on last edited by
          #12

          Tim Deveaux wrote:

          Either way not the best pick up line:O

          Not even in Toronto? :rolleyes:

          Regards, Nish


          Are you addicted to CP? If so, check this out: The Code Project Forum Analyzer : Find out how much of a life you don't have! My technology blog: voidnish.wordpress.com

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          • A AspDotNetDev

            I agree, number 2 is more gooder.

            Driven to the ARMs by x86.

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            Albert Holguin
            wrote on last edited by
            #13

            I don't know, I'd say neither is goodest. ;P

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            • N Nish Nishant

              Tim Deveaux wrote:

              Either way not the best pick up line:O

              Not even in Toronto? :rolleyes:

              Regards, Nish


              Are you addicted to CP? If so, check this out: The Code Project Forum Analyzer : Find out how much of a life you don't have! My technology blog: voidnish.wordpress.com

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              Ravi Bhavnani
              wrote on last edited by
              #14

              Are you speaking from experience, my good man? :-D /ravi

              My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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              • R Ravi Bhavnani

                Agreed.  But it sure helps when you're trying to get someone to complete an online survey. :-D /ravi

                My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                Albert Holguin
                wrote on last edited by
                #15

                In that context, I'd definitely say 1 is the better choice.

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                • A Albert Holguin

                  In that context, I'd definitely say 1 is the better choice.

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                  Ravi Bhavnani
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #16

                  Thanks.  That's what I also thought. /ravi

                  My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                  • R Ravi Bhavnani

                    Thanks.  That's what I also thought. /ravi

                    My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                    Albert Holguin
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #17

                    It's funny how context makes one feel like a better choice, since they're both correct grammatically.

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                    • R Ravi Bhavnani

                      There's always a wise guy. :) /ravi

                      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                      Lost User
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #18

                      You mean 'Always, there is a wise guy', surely

                      MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

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                      • R Ravi Bhavnani

                        Agreed.  But it sure helps when you're trying to get someone to complete an online survey. :-D /ravi

                        My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #19

                        In that case shouldn't it be It will only take a minute or it will take only a minute In either case, my vote goes with 1. as the more 'natural' sounding

                        MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

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                        • C Christian Graus

                          I'd say #1, but if someone said #2, I would not think it wrong, or even malformed.

                          Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

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                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #20

                          Christian Graus wrote:

                          I'd say #1, but if someone said #2, I would not think it wrong, or even malformed.

                          OK then.....number two.

                          Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004

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                          • L Lost User

                            In that case shouldn't it be It will only take a minute or it will take only a minute In either case, my vote goes with 1. as the more 'natural' sounding

                            MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

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                            Ravi Bhavnani
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #21

                            The exact context is this sentence ("XYZ" represents the product name):

                            You can decide which features get implemented first (and suggest new ones) by taking the brief XYZ Feature Survey.  It only takes a minute and you can change your answers at any time.

                            I'm trying to make it easy for my users to prioritize existing feature requests (the majority of which have been submitted by them) and suggest new features. /ravi

                            My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                            • L Lost User

                              In that case shouldn't it be It will only take a minute or it will take only a minute In either case, my vote goes with 1. as the more 'natural' sounding

                              MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

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                              AspDotNetDev
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #22

                              Adding the "will" just emphasizes that the survey will take place in the future. Assuming the reader already knows this, it is unnecessary to add that information. Though, it does sound more natural. I think that is because "will" also denotes that something is actually going to happen rather than something that may happen. For example, one might also say "It would only take a minute." That has the same meaning, but also recognizes that the event may never take place. Since people (at least in my culture) tend to use subtle connotations to encourage others to do as they say, the "will" seems more natural (i.e., you'd expect somebody to imply that the event will take place). Basically, it seems more natural because it is of the level of assertiveness you'd expect from a friend.

                              Driven to the ARMs by x86.

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                              • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                Which do you think reads better?

                                1. "It only takes a minute!"
                                2. "It takes only a minute!"

                                This isn't a homework problem. :) /ravi

                                My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                GlobX
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #23

                                Adopting a programmer's mindset, no sentence is complete without the word "should" :)


                                Typical n-tiered architecture: DB <-> Junk(0) <-> ... <-> Junk(n-1) <-> Pretty

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                                • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                  Which do you think reads better?

                                  1. "It only takes a minute!"
                                  2. "It takes only a minute!"

                                  This isn't a homework problem. :) /ravi

                                  My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                  Glenn Dawson
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #24

                                  http://faculty.washington.edu/marynell/grammar/AdverbPl.html[^] Focusing adverbs: even, only, also, mainly, just after BE verb, after auxiliary verbs, before other verbs

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                                  • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                    The exact context is this sentence ("XYZ" represents the product name):

                                    You can decide which features get implemented first (and suggest new ones) by taking the brief XYZ Feature Survey.  It only takes a minute and you can change your answers at any time.

                                    I'm trying to make it easy for my users to prioritize existing feature requests (the majority of which have been submitted by them) and suggest new features. /ravi

                                    My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                    _Damian S_
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #25

                                    Ravi Bhavnani wrote:

                                    You can decide which features get implemented first (and suggest new ones) by taking the brief XYZ Feature Survey.  It only takes a minute and you can change your answers at any time.

                                    That sounds fine... BTW, no thanks! ;P

                                    Silence is golden... but duct tape is silver!! Booger Mobile - My bright green 1964 Ford Falcon - check out the blog here!! | If you feel generous - make a donation to Camp Quality!!

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                                    • A Albert Holguin

                                      It's funny how context makes one feel like a better choice, since they're both correct grammatically.

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                                      PIEBALDconsult
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #26

                                      But they're different semantically.

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                                      • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                        Which do you think reads better?

                                        1. "It only takes a minute!"
                                        2. "It takes only a minute!"

                                        This isn't a homework problem. :) /ravi

                                        My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                        Roger Wright
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #27

                                        Style 2 is clearly the more proper way to make the statement. But I still think it will take longer.

                                        Will Rogers never met me.

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                                        • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                          Which do you think reads better?

                                          1. "It only takes a minute!"
                                          2. "It takes only a minute!"

                                          This isn't a homework problem. :) /ravi

                                          My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                          Abhinav S
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #28

                                          Wait a minute! Er, um - yeah #1 sounds better.

                                          Too much of heaven can bring you underground Heaven can always turn around Too much of heaven, our life is all hell bound Heaven, the kill that makes no sound

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