the same effects

Seiichi MYOGA · Post by **Seiichi MYOGA** » Fri May 14, 2004 4:00 am

Can you help me find something that has the same effects as (1) does?

(1) You can enter as much or as little information as you want.

(From the explanation about Google Toolbar-AutoFill)

If we don't resort to positive degree, we may be able to depend on a (concealed) interrogative, a relative or a comparative.

Question 1:
Do you think (2) to (5) are all equally acceptable and consistent with the original message (1) is intended to convey?

(2) It is all up to you to decide how much information you enter.

(3) You can choose the range of information you enter.

(4) You can decide on which information you enter and which information you don't enter.

(5) You don't need to enter more information you want.

Question 2:
Have a look at (6), please. Do you think you obtain the same effects that (1) retains, by using "only"?

(6) You can enter only as much as you want.

Thank you in advance

Seiichi MYOGA

Andrew Patterson · Post by **Andrew Patterson** » Fri May 14, 2004 12:18 pm

Yes to question 1, except sentence (5) should read: You don't need to enter more information than you want.

No to question 2, and I refer you back to my comment in, "And or Or; that is the question." - It ain't logical.

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Fri May 14, 2004 2:20 pm

Only implies a small or limited quantity (e.g. we only have £20 to last the rest of the week). As much as you want implies no limit. Sentence 6 is therefore impossible, not because of grammar but because it contains an inherent contradiction.

As Andrew points out, you need to think more about what words actually mean rather than look for grammatical explanations all the time. It's like asking "Can I say Colourless green ideas sleep furiously?"