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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > language question
language question
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Sharwong
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language question
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Fellow teachers:
In a Use of English part 2 exercise, there was a sentence with a gapfill.
"Science is not logical. If it were, scientists would be out of a job because it would be possible to explain everything ____reference to a few basic ideas/"
I immediately put "in" but the answer was incorrect. The correct answer was
"by/with"
What �s the difference between "in reference to" vs "by/with reference to?"
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14 Apr 2014
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ueslteacher
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If you look at the idiomatic use here, it has in and with written with a slash, so, to my mind, they are synonymous. I guess, this could be as much of a difference as between "explain everything referring to a few basic ideas (with/in reference to)" and "explain everything by/with a help of a few basic ideas (by reference to)" but again I am not anative speaker...
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15 Apr 2014
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Apodo
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Science is not
logical. If it were, scientists would be out of a job because it would be
possible to explain everything ____reference to a few basic ideas/" What �s the difference
between "in reference to" vs "by/with reference to?" I read this sentence out loud and as a native speaker I
automatically filled the gap using �with �. Why? It sounds right
in this particular sentence and there is a subtle difference in meaning. This how I would use �in reference to �: The principal will speak
to you in reference to the student �s progress. (He will refer to a particular
matter)
Science could explain everything with reference to a few
basic ideas. (Science is going to use these ideas with their explanations in an
ongoing way)
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15 Apr 2014
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Lovely Lana
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You seem to be not the only one puzzled by that question. Look here.
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15 Apr 2014
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yanogator
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Apodo explained it nicely. "In reference to" means "about." "With reference to" means "using as a source/help." Bruce |
15 Apr 2014
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Sharwong
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I think I �ve got it.
In reference to (about) the staff meeting agenda, the last item is deleted.
With reference to (a source) the staff policy guide, 5a) clearly states that smoking on the balcony is prohibited.
Thanks for the clarification!
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15 Apr 2014
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