Just to play devil's advocate, the rioters are demonstrating their dissatisfaction; the riots are evidence of that dissatisfaction. Examples are used [by someone] to demonstrate a point. It is the person who is demonstrating by using an example, it isn't the example that is doing the demonstrating. I agree that sometimes, although technically correct, a sentence can seem very awkward. Wasn't that Strunk and White's main argument--that sometimes you have to overlook the technically correct option in favor of what sounds better?
Carol On Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 12:28 PM, Jim Clark <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi > > I don't buy the criticism of "the data showed" or various similar > constructions. Do not the riots in the middle east demonstrate /show / > reveal something about the level of dissatisfaction there? Do not examples > demonstrate / show something? Are riots and examples any different than > data? > > I found some relevant references, including > > > http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VDM-465D8DN-X&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1991&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1686012685&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=fef6dde5ff1d413b2b3327c3db35677c&searchtype=a > > or for same abstract > > http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(91)90013-M > > > See part III in the following > > > http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CB0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdialnet.unirioja.es%2Fservlet%2Ffichero_articulo%3Fcodigo%3D2526431%26orden%3D0&rct=j&q=verbs%20animate%20and%20inanimate%20subjects%20science%20writing&ei=HTSGTZ_eKfK80QHAy7XDCA&usg=AFQjCNHW_Qq1kIql7hjbiUfrhS853wMTzw > > or for same pdf > > > http://www.google.ca/url?q=http://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/fichero_articulo%3Fcodigo%3D2526431%26orden%3D0&ei=oTSGTbaJBMGR0QGSm_j1Bg&sa=X&oi=unauthorizedredirect&ct=targetlink&ust=1300642729067716&usg=AFQjCNGm8R8uivVZ75FFXKSmbGNXbIosrg > > Interesting discussion (full text I think) here by same author as first > paper, Peter Master: > > > http://books.google.ca/books?id=NS-ArVhRmJ0C&pg=PA169&lpg=PA169&dq=verbs+animate+and+inanimate+subjects+science+writing&source=bl&ots=A8chLjBbgC&sig=nC1zDHdqQCFfE8xZLXS84xM5S8s&hl=en&ei=HTSGTZ_eKfK80QHAy7XDCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=verbs%20animate%20and%20inanimate%20subjects%20science%20writing&f=false > > Master makes the point that non-native speakers of English may have > particular difficulty with the inanimate subject - animate verb > construction, which is allowed in English (and used widely in scientific > writing), but may not be allowed in other languages. He presents empirical > data on just how common this structure is in scientific writing. > > > Of course, authors trying to persuade editors / reviewers of the error of > their ways has highly variable outcomes! > > Take care > Jim > > > > > > James M. Clark > Professor of Psychology > 204-786-9757 > 204-774-4134 Fax > [email protected] > > >>> Carol DeVolder <[email protected]> 20-Mar-11 10:58:00 AM >>> > Hi Annette, > How about something like, "analysis of the data revealed..." or > "examination > of the data (results, etc.)...?" > Carol > > > On Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 10:53 AM, Annette Taylor <[email protected] > >wrote: > > > I'm grappling with how to phrase some things in results sections > > especially. Because data are an inanimate thing they can't really "show" > or > > "demonstrate" anything. Nor can a study do anything such as "observe" or > > "define" so what kind of language do you all use. Is there some > boilerplate > > that works. > > > > I have a revision to an APA journal that asked me to fix these > things...and > > I'm struggling with the data especially. Lengthy rewriting of "the > study..." > > Finally fixed some of those problems. It came at a huge cost to precision > > and concise writing. > > > > Annette > > > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe click here: > > > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443341&n=T&l=tips&o=9499 > > or send a blank email to > > leave-<leave-<leave-9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > 9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > > <9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > 9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > > > > -- > Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. > Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology > St. Ambrose University > 518 West Locust Street > Davenport, Iowa 52803 > 563-333-6482 > > This e-mail might be confidential, so please don't share it. > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a891720c9&n=T&l=tips&o=9500 > or send a blank email to > leave-9500-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443341&n=T&l=tips&o=9504 > or send a blank email to > leave-9504-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > -- Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology St. Ambrose University 518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 563-333-6482 This e-mail might be confidential, so please don't share it. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. 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