Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Chan-Seung Lee]

[dragn]

Honestly, neither is likely to win anyone a Pulitzer. I'd say they are equally awkward. I can't change much because I don't know the context, but I think this would be a small improvement:

This particular man raised more than a few eyebrows with his contradictory statements after returning home last year for the first time in more than three decades.


Greg

[redset]

As far as 'raised' and 'caused' goes, the first sentence is fine - it's not meant literally, the man didn't walk around pushing people's eyebrows up with his finger It means the same as causing them to be raised (he was the reason for it), it just has a more direct feel.

[suesummers]

I feel 'raised quite a few eyebrows' is more direct and less 'around the bush' than 'raised not a few eyebrows'.
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[lotus]

I agree


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

[redset]

I think they have a slightly different flavour - 'raised quite a few eyebrows' feels more as though the speaker is emphasising the reaction, 'raised not a few' seems more reserved. It's like saying 'it's quite hot today' or 'it's not exactly cold'.