Comments on How can "in terms of" alone encompass — and substitute — multiple prepositions "at, by, as, or for"?
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How can "in terms of" alone encompass — and substitute — multiple prepositions "at, by, as, or for"?
in terms of. This phrase is commonly used as a substitute for a precise identification of relationship or as a substitute for such prepositions as at, by, as, or for. The phrase is correctly used when one thing is being expressed in terms of another thing, as when a rule is discussed in terms of its economic effect. The phrase is loosely or incorrectly used in the following sentences: This policy argument is strong in terms of our client’s case. (Is a strong argument for our client? Or for the opposition?) If the doctor’s words are construed in terms of a guarantee, the result will be different. (Construed as a guarantee?)
How can in terms of
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"substitute for a precise identification of relationship or as a substitute for such prepositions as at, by, as, or for"?
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signify four prepositions that don't perfectly substitute each other? Incontrovertibly, in some contexts, it's UNgrammatical to substitute at, by, as, or for with each other — L2 learners commonly muff them, and pick the wrong adposition!
Bahrych, Merino. Legal Writing and Analysis in a Nutshell 5th edition (2017). 368.
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