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leslie
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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 Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject: 'XX percent of the way to N / V-ing' |
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Hi,
I came across a phrase 'XX percent of the way to N / V-ing....' and I had no idea what it meant.
1. Does it mean 'about / around XX percent to the state /situation /action? Or does it mean the chance to achieve it?
Example sentences are provided below. Could you please expalin a bit?
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A. The key issue to consider is that we are nearly 90 percent of the way to having a �Depression era� mentality.
B. Will you reach 100 percent of the people and persuade them 10 percent of the way? Or will you reach 10 percent of the people and persuade them 100 percent of the way? The cost is the same.
C. �Jeff and his wife Mary did all this hard work, standing up when no one thought they had a chance,� Klobuchar told the crowd. �They�re 90 percent of the way there, but you need to get them the last 10 percent of the way.�
D. Tomorrow, according to my sidebar, George W. Bush will be 90 percent of the way through his presidency. |
2. If I want to express the idea: there's a 90 percent of the chance that I'll get my deal done, meaning the trade will succeed, is it a natural way to write:
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| There's a 90 percent of the way to getting the deal done.?? |
Also, is it correct to write:
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| there's a 90 percent of the chance to get the deal done.?? |
Thank you very much for reading my questions and your help. Much appreciated!
Leslie
_________________
Less Is Blessed |
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sabrinawaiz
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 58
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:55 am Post subject: |
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100% of something makes it complete.
If you are x% of the way, the job is x% done and only (100-x)% is left to complete.
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| A. The key issue to consider is that we are nearly 90 percent of the way to having a “Depression era” mentality. |
We have certainly prepared ourselves mentally to deal with the imminent "Depression era"
I guess you got the idea...
Well, for the second one,
I am 90% of the way to get this deal done.
Sabrina |
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leslie
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you very much for the clarification, Sabrina. But I'm a bit not sure of the usage here.
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I am 90% of the way to get this deal done.
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The example sentence goes 90% of the way to having.........instead of 90% of the way to have.... I'd like to know which is correct? Should it be to+V or to V-ing pattern? Or they mean different things respectively?
Also, anyone else here can help me out with the rest of example sentences? Do they all mean the same thing? Thanks much again for your help.
Leslie
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sabrinawaiz
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 58
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:58 am Post subject: |
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".... 90 percent of the way to having a “Depression era” mentality." is the correct one.
Let's break it down like this...
{I am/He is/We are} {x% of the way} to/having {Result}
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| A. The key issue to consider is that we are nearly 90 percent of the way to having a “Depression era” mentality. |
It's obvious that we are going to have a “Depression era” as 90% of something that leads to a “Depression era” has occured.
{I am/He is/We are} - The key issue to consider is that we are nearly
{x% of the way} - 90 percent of the way
{Result} - to having a “Depression era”
| Quote: |
| B. Will you reach 100 percent of the people and persuade them 10 percent of the way? Or will you reach 10 percent of the people and persuade them 100 percent of the way? The cost is the same. |
{10 percent of the way} - to get the job 10% done.
{100 percent of the way - to get the job 100% done.
| Quote: |
| C. “Jeff and his wife Mary did all this hard work, standing up when no one thought they had a chance,” Klobuchar told the crowd. “They’re 90 percent of the way there, but you need to get them the last 10 percent of the way.” |
90 percent of the hardwork, which everyone else thought impossible, is done. They need to complete the rest 10 percent now.
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| D. Tomorrow, according to my sidebar, George W. Bush will be 90 percent of the way through his presidency. |
If the awarded term of presidency was 100 days (hypothetically), tomorrow is the 90th day which means Bush is 90% of the way through his presidency
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If I want to express the idea: there's a 90 percent of the chance that I'll get my deal done, meaning the trade will succeed, is it a natural way to write:
There's a 90 percent of the way to getting the deal done.?? |
You can not use {x% of the way} here as you are not citing the work you've done which eventually make your trade a success.
Convincing 100 people will make your trade succeed (100%), you will be 100% of the way.
If you only have managed to convince 90 people, you are 90% of the way
To express your thought, you can say
There is a 90% chance that I'll get my deal done.
Sabrina |
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leslie
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:05 am Post subject: |
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Thank you so much for your explanations. I'm getting clear right now. For the final confirmation, I'd like to make sure if these two sentences are both ok and mean the same thing. Or only one of them suits my second question.
| Quote: |
| I am 90% of the way to get this deal done. |
(the first answer you gave me.)
| Quote: |
| There is a 90% chance that I'll get my deal done. |
(the second answer you offered.)
| Quote: |
You can not use {x% of the way} here as you are not citing the work you've done which eventually make your trade a success.
Convincing 100 people will make your trade succeed (100%), you will be 100% of the way.
If you only have managed to convince 90 people, you are 90% of the way
To express your thought, you can say
There is a 90% chance that I'll get my deal done. |
According to your explanation, if I have to convince 100 people and I've convinced 90 people, then I can use "I'm 90 percent of the way to get the deal done."? But wouldn't 90% chance be equal to 90% of the way to convincing people?
Moreover, is there any other natural way to express the idea in my second question?
Thank you once again for your help.
Leslie
_________________
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Last edited by leslie on Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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sabrinawaiz
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 58
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Those two sentences mean different things.
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I am 90% of the way to get this deal done.
(I gave this sentence as you insisted on framing the sentence using 'of the way') |
Here, it's all your work that determines the success of the deal. When you are 90% done, you can say - you are 90% of the way
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| There is a 90% chance that I'll get my deal done. |
Here, you can not influence the outcome by working hard or anything. You give your best effort and still the result depends on something else like performance of your fellow competitors. (For example, if you are competing with someone for a scholarship based on academic performance, financial situation, nationality...etc)
Now tell me Leslie, how can you say you are 90% of the way to getting that scholarship?
Of course, you have a 90% chance of getting that scholarship, maybe just because you've outperfomed others in academic and co-curricular activities.  |
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