Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hello,

"The benefit of breastfeeding [for/on] babies is one of the most hotly debated topics in pregnancy and early motherhood."

1. Should it be "benefit" or "benefits"?
2. Which preposition is appropriate here: "for" or "on"?

Thank you,

Nawee

[Mary W. Ng]

[nawee]

Hello,

I meant "the benefits [for/on babies]". Or is it better to say "the effect of breastfeeding on babies" (the effect breastfeeding has on babies)?

Thank you,

Nawee

[CP]

Whenever you talk about cause and effect, it is common to say, "the effect of X on Y," where X is the cause or putative cause, and Y the dimension that you are interested in. I'm interested in improving golf performance, so I wonder, What is the effect of mental imagery on golf performance? I am interested in improving children's learning, so I wonder, What is the effect of playing video games on school performance? I can study these things by doing the proper experiments or observational studies.

If the question is open ended -- What is the effect of breastfeeding on babies? -- it's a little hard to know what you want to know, what you're really interested in. The effect on babies' what?

Better questions: What is the effect of breastfeeding on babies' health / child development / school performance / juvenile delinquency / dementia senilis?

If you ask, What are the benefits of breastfeeding for babies?, you are asking for the results of all studies that looked at breastfeeding as the X and something, anything, as the Y, and you are asking for only the positive results.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[lotus]

Hi nawee,

Try:

The benefits of breastfeeding (babies) is one of the most hotly debated topics in pregnancy and early motherhood.

Don't need the preposition at all.


--lotus
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War does not make one great --Yoda