RE: Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?

Subject: RE: Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?
From: "Wright, Lynne" <Lynne -dot- Wright -at- Kronos -dot- com>
To: Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>, "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2017 20:23:52 +0000

I have to disagree: 3 x 2 is the same as 2 x 3; and both are the same as 3 x 1 x 2.

The order of the digits doesn't matter. The result is still 6.

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Lauren
Sent: April-25-17 4:10 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?

On 4/25/2017 9:36 AM, Robert Lauriston wrote:
> You can say "three times two is six" or "three multiplied by two is
> six," but you shouldn't have "multiply" and "times" in the same
> sentence.

This is correct and wrong at the same time. "Three times two is (equals) six" is not ""three multiplied by two is six." "Three times two equals six" is stated as two multiplied by three equals six." The order is important, while the mathematical result is the same. "Times" is a count of how many times an ingredient or process is used. "Multiplied by" what is used to increase the ingredient or process.

So for 3 x 2 = 6, if "times" is used, then 2 is the thing being increased and the phrase is "three times two." If "multiplied by" is used then the meaning is that you have three of something that you are increasing by two.

The phrase being addressed is, "multiply the absorbance of the dilution times 20." Accuracy of the order of things is important here. What it sounds like the scientist is saying is either, "multiply the absorbance of the dilution 20 times," or "multiply the absorbance of the dilution by 20." The meaning of the two interpretations can differ whether the formula represents a process or a factor. Context is necessary.



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as Lynne -dot- Wright -at- kronos -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives


Follow-Ups:

References:
Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?: From: Emoto
Re: Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?: From: Lauren

Previous by Author: RE: Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?
Previous by Thread: Re: Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?
Next by Thread: Re: Grammar: "Multiply by" or "Multiply times"?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads