3 ms·
Has anybody read this headline and wondered whether it means “not enough Mg” or “even a tiny bit of Mg”?
by k_sze 2y ago
Has anybody read this headline and wondered whether it means “not enough Mg” or “even a tiny bit of Mg”?
- Brian_K_White 2y agoYes I thought the same. While English may be at fault for allowing many ways to parse the same strings, it's excuse is it's not a conscious entity that chose anything. What is the excuse of an article author who has no other job than to communicate?
- laborcontract 2y agoFelt the same here. Title gives the indication that magnesium, even a little, is bad.
- 2-3-7-43-1807 2y agono, it doesn't. it's your "level" of english ^^
- loa_in_ 2y agoIt's not. The title is ambiguous. You're used to read headlines in a "headline tone" and you know/assume the meaning because you internalised the fact that magnesium is not bad for you, which is correct. If someone knows perfect English, but doesn't take that fact as axiomatic, the title is ambiguous.
- 2-3-7-43-1807 2y agoyou don't know what "level" means.
- SkyPuncher 2y agoYes! I basically read the headline as “too much” magnesium is bad. Which, was a surprising headline to me.
- yumraj 2y agoInitially no, perhaps because I could guess based on prior discussions on Mg. But, reread after reading your comment and yes I can see that it can cause confusion. They should have been more clear in the title.