From a news story: "Although nowhere near as strong as Katrina, Isaac is a massive storm."
"Nowhere near" bothers me. Substitute "not nearly" or just "nearly"? Are they all double negatives? Or are "nowhere" and "not" merely intensifiers? And can the adjective "strong" be modified adverbially through the as...as construction?
Whatcha think?
Nowhere near
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Nowhere near
pl
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Nowhere near
Nowhere near and nearly are nowhere close to being synonyms. Katrina was a category 5, Isaac barely made it to 1. Nowhere near the strength. 4 would be nearly there.
I don't understand the quibble with the as...as formation. Isn't that the most common usage?
As strong as an ox.
As light as a feather.
As thick as molasses.
Etc.
I don't understand the quibble with the as...as formation. Isn't that the most common usage?
As strong as an ox.
As light as a feather.
As thick as molasses.
Etc.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Nowhere near
As strong as Katrina is correct. Thus nowhere near(ly) modifies strong, which is an adjective. Near is also an adj, thus the need for an advebial ly ending. "Nowhere near" is, I think, a colloquialism, but also a bit of a double negative.
pl
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
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- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
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Re: Nowhere near
Why do you think nowhere near is a double negative? There's only one that I can see: nowhere.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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