Does "this is more children" sound natural?

Forums: English, Esl, Grammar
Email this Topic • Print this Page

Context:

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its estimate of autism prevalence in the United States to 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls). By comparison, this is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome – combined.

The new numbers - based on a 2008 snapshot of 14 monitoring sites - represent a 78 percent increase in autism over the previous five years. They represent a ten-fold (1,000 percent) increase in reported prevalence over the last four decades

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Question • Score: 6 • Views: 773 • Replies: 9

No top replies

View best answer, chosen by oristarA

@oristarA,

Perfectly natural to my American ear.

0 Replies

@oristarA,

'this' is "1 in 88 children", Ori.

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its estimate of autism prevalence in the United States to 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls). By comparison, 1 in 88 children is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome – combined.

1 Reply

yes, it's fine.

0 Replies

@JTT,

JTT wrote:

'this' is "1 in 88 children", Ori.

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its estimate of autism prevalence in the United States to 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls). By comparison, 1 in 88 children is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome – combined.

Excellent!

I think "than are affected by" caused confusion. Why not "than that are affected by"?

2 Replies

@oristarA,

Later.

0 Replies

@oristarA,

Quote:

I think "than are affected by" caused confusion. Why not "than that are affected by"?

Because you don't need it. Use the fewest words which will deliver a clear meaning.

It means "...than (those that) are affected by..." and you can omit the words in parenthesis.

2 Replies

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

Quote:
I think "than are affected by" caused confusion. Why not "than that are affected by"?

Because you don't need it. Use the fewest words which will deliver a clear meaning.

It means "...than (those that) are affected by..." and you can omit the words in parenthesis.

Cool.
Thank you.

0 Replies

@oristarA,

oristarA wrote:

By comparison, this is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome – combined.

"this is more children" is not where the phrase breaks

this is more children than

take "children" out of the phrase so it is clearer to you

this is more than

0 Replies

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

Quote:
I think "than are affected by" caused confusion. Why not "than that are affected by"?

Because you don't need it. Use the fewest words which will deliver a clear meaning.

It means "...than (those that) are affected by..." and you can omit the words in parenthesis.

But given oristarA's confusion, it wasn't delivered clearly.

I suggest being wordy for the sake of clarity.

0 Replies

Does "this is more children" sound natural?

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know