Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ClarissaMach]

This is the kind of sentence that always put me in doubt:

"The cases listed above are some of a limited number of initiatives in which universities collaborate with external partners in highly structured relationships to enhance industry or sector competitiveness...."

Does it mean "enhance the competitiveness of industry and the sector competitiveness" or it's like "enhance the industry and enhance the sector competitiveness". Have I made myself clear?

This combination of ["substantive that can be used as adjective"] + [and/or] + ["other substantive that can be used as adjective"] + [substantive] is never clear to me.

[Mister Micawber]

.
This is a common occurrence, and usually requires common sense as well as considerably experience with the language:

(1) Since industries and sectors are of the same nature, both words should modify competitiveness.
(2) You'll also notice the 'or', where the writer is inviting the reader to choose either term for consideration.
(3) It is a little much to think that university-collaboration initiatives could significantly enhance an entire industy-- not that it is impossible, just that it is a less likely consideration.

Using this kind of reasoning, we come to the conclusion that it is to be read not as:

to enhance industry or (to enhance) sector competitiveness

But as:

to enhance (industry or sector) competitiveness
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[ClarissaMach]

Thanks a lot, Mister!