3 ms·

I believe the "it" properly refers to "something that you don't want anyone to know" since it is closer to "it" than the other phrase.

by codexon 17y ago

codexon 17y ago
Since I am being subjected to downvotes, here is additional proof to support my position. http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/grammar/writing%20guides/pronouns.htm#Wrong%20antecedent http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/grammar/writing%20guid... Sometimes a pronoun refers to a wrong antecedent. This problem usually occurs because the wrong antecedent comes between the pronoun and the real antecedent. To correct this error, place the pronoun as close to its antecedent as possible. So this is not a case of English failing any more than it is Schmidt failing at English (if you believe he is pro-privacy). Since Schmidt seems like a smart man, it is far more likely that he really did mean that "it" to be "the thing you don't want anyone to know".
- epochwolf 17y ago
  Two things. 1. Intelligence in one area does not imply intelligence in another. I don't know all of Schmidt's areas of expertise are but I doubt it includes English. (Don't link me to wikipedia, already read it) 2. Even if he is an expert at English, people are very sloppy with their native language. All you need to do is go to a university for a couple of weeks to figure out most PhDs make the same grammatical errors as the rest of us.
  - codexon 17y ago
    Please stop treating this simple rule of grammar as some piece of esoteric knowledge. It is common sense that the antecedent of a pronoun defaults to the closest noun. You don't get through college or even a PhD as Schmidt has (where you write many papers) by repeatedly making ambiguity mistakes like these. A research paper is useless if no one can make any sense out of it. Not to mention that he is a CEO: a job where you live or die by how well you communicate.
    - ErrantX 17y ago
      Firstly the others are right: even smart guys write & speak "wrong" English :) Secondly don't forget this is spoken - emphasis and so forth change in the spoken language. I haven't heard it myself (anyone got a link to a recording?) but it could well be dependant on how it was spoken :) And finally I think applying strict grammar words to what someone has to say does them a lot of injustice :) people just dont work like that do they. Essentially it is saying were going to ignore any meaning or connotation or mistake and take everything literally - god forbid that becomes a fad! :)

I believe the "it" properly refers to "something that you don't want anyone to know" since it is closer to "it" than the other phrase.

by codexon 17y ago

I believe the "it" properly refers to "something that you don't want anyone to know" since it is closer to "it" than the other phrase.

codexon 17y ago

Since I am being subjected to downvotes, here is additional proof to support my position. http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/grammar/writing%20guides/pronouns.htm#Wrong%20antecedent http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/grammar/writing%20guid... Sometimes a pronoun refers to a wrong antecedent. This problem usually occurs because the wrong antecedent comes between the pronoun and the real antecedent. To correct this error, place the pronoun as close to its antecedent as possible. So this is not a case of English failing any more than it is Schmidt failing at English (if you believe he is pro-privacy). Since Schmidt seems like a smart man, it is far more likely that he really did mean that "it" to be "the thing you don't want anyone to know".

epochwolf 17y ago
Two things. 1. Intelligence in one area does not imply intelligence in another. I don't know all of Schmidt's areas of expertise are but I doubt it includes English. (Don't link me to wikipedia, already read it) 2. Even if he is an expert at English, people are very sloppy with their native language. All you need to do is go to a university for a couple of weeks to figure out most PhDs make the same grammatical errors as the rest of us.
- codexon 17y ago
  Please stop treating this simple rule of grammar as some piece of esoteric knowledge. It is common sense that the antecedent of a pronoun defaults to the closest noun. You don't get through college or even a PhD as Schmidt has (where you write many papers) by repeatedly making ambiguity mistakes like these. A research paper is useless if no one can make any sense out of it. Not to mention that he is a CEO: a job where you live or die by how well you communicate.
  - ErrantX 17y ago
    Firstly the others are right: even smart guys write & speak "wrong" English :) Secondly don't forget this is spoken - emphasis and so forth change in the spoken language. I haven't heard it myself (anyone got a link to a recording?) but it could well be dependant on how it was spoken :) And finally I think applying strict grammar words to what someone has to say does them a lot of injustice :) people just dont work like that do they. Essentially it is saying were going to ignore any meaning or connotation or mistake and take everything literally - god forbid that becomes a fad! :)