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This reason/argument doesn't stand

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WBYeats
 
Reply Thu 23 May, 2013 08:22 pm
When I want to say a person's argument or a reason suggested has no weight, I would say:

eg The argument does not hold good.
eg The reason is spurious/tenuous/weak/feeble/flaccid.

but can I also say?:

-This reason/argument doesn't stand.
-This reason/argument doesn't have a leg to stand on.
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Type: Discussion • Score: 2 • Views: 1,336 • Replies: 14
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neologist
 
  1  
Reply Thu 23 May, 2013 10:54 pm
@WBYeats,
Perhaps a non sequitur. Here is a good place to bone up on logical fallacies:
http://www.logicalfallacies.info/
WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Thu 23 May, 2013 11:15 pm
@neologist,
Thank you~ I'll bone up on them

But are there any other ways of expressing a similar meaning without being a Latinist?
PUNKEY
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 06:43 am
@WBYeats,
I think you mean "reasoning."
WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 07:42 am
@PUNKEY,
I mean... reason....
neologist
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 09:39 am
@WBYeats,
WBYeats wrote:
I mean... reason....
Well, in that case. 'non sequitur' simply means 'does not follow'. That may or may not be the correct application to the argument presented. In a sense, most fallacious arguments fail because they do not follow the premises. So, other terms may apply as well.
WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 06:45 pm
@neologist,
Thank you~


Can I also say?:

-This reason/argument doesn't stand.
-This reason/argument doesn't have a leg to stand on.
neologist
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 07:27 pm
@WBYeats,
I think you should provide a reason. Such as commonly found on a2k:
Ad Hominum - Name calling - your opponent is a low life skddledunk who always distorts the truth.
Straw Man - offering a statement about an unrelated fact - You might say service clubs are for the public good. Your opponent mentions a service club member who was accused of stealing.
Etc.
WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 09:47 pm
@neologist,
May I know what you mean by skddledunk?

Oxford and Dictionary.com don't have it....
MontereyJack
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 10:17 pm
"reasoning" and "argument" are more or less synonyms. "Reasoning" works better than "reason" in your examples.
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JTT
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 10:47 pm
@WBYeats,
Quote:
eg The argument does not hold good.
eg The reason is spurious/tenuous/weak/feeble/flaccid.

but can I also say?:

-This reason/argument doesn't stand.
-This reason/argument doesn't have a leg to stand on.


I'd say that when we engage in serious discussion, we tend to address the person rather than the argument.

Your argument does not hold (water) good.
Your reasoning is spurious/tenuous/weak/feeble/flaccid.



Your/This reason/argument doesn't square with reality/square with the facts.
You don't have a leg to stand on.
0 Replies
 
neologist
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 11:07 pm
@WBYeats,
WBYeats wrote:
May I know what you mean by skddledunk?

Oxford and Dictionary.com don't have it....
I'm a neologist. What does it sound like? Very Happy
0 Replies
 
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 11:22 pm
@WBYeats,
Quote:
May I know what you mean by skddledunk?


Using deontic [social sense] modal 'may' [permission] with 'know' is unnatural English, WB.

Perhaps it's because no one can give us permission to know something.

"May I ask/inquire what you mean by ... ?" is perfectly natural.
WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Fri 24 May, 2013 11:43 pm
@JTT,
Oh...I didn't know this; thank you~

I'm happy to learn from JTT~

How about this one:

'May I have your opinion?'
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Sat 25 May, 2013 12:18 am
@WBYeats,
Quote:
How about this one:

'May I have your opinion?'


Indubitably, WB. You're asking for something that is within the person's power to provide.
0 Replies
 
 

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