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itself

 
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learner12



Joined: 18 Nov 2006
Posts: 730

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 1:18 am    Post subject: itself Reply with quote

Hello, teachers!!

http://www.sciammind.com/article.cfm?articleID=00056941-1933-1196-906983414B7F0000

This evidence is consistent with large-scale social trends. Assessments of well-being by various social scientists--among them, David G. Myers of Hope College and Robert E. Lane of Yale University--reveal that increased choice and increased affluence have, in fact, been accompanied by decreased well-being in the U.S. and most other affluent societies. As the gross domestic product more than doubled in the past 30 years, the proportion of the population describing itself as "very happy" declined by about 5 percent, or by some 14 million people. In addition, more of us than ever are clinically depressed. Of course, no single factor explains decreased well-being, but findings indicate that the explosion of choice plays an important role.
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the proportion of the population describing itself as "very happy" declined by about 5 percent, or by some 14 million people.
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Why is "itself" used instead of "themselves" or "himself" or "herself"? Is this because the word "population" used? If so, why didn't the writer use "people"?

Thank you in advance.
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asterix



Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 1654

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The population is singular, and gender neutral. That's probably why the author used it.
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learner12



Joined: 18 Nov 2006
Posts: 730

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear asterix:

Thank you for your clear-cut explanations.

Have a nice day!!
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