atw: Re: Usage survey: the expression "consists of"

  • From: Nick Shears <nshears@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:32:33 -0700

I agree. I think of "consists of" as expressing exclusivity.

Cheers

Nick

From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kath Bowman
Sent: Friday, 16 March 2012 1:29 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Usage survey: the expression "consists of"

I agree with Michael. It implies that this represents the entire therapy.
Cheers
Kath

From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Geoffrey
Sent: Friday, 16 March 2012 1:47 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Usage survey: the expression "consists of"

Hi austechies

Can I get your feedback on how you interpret the expression "consists of" or 
"consisted of". In the following example:


"Drug therapy consisted of 0.25 mg of digoxin per day and 40 mg of propranolol 
twice a day."

do you read that as saying that the entire therapy included just digoxin and 
propranolol and nothing else?  Or do you read it as saying that the therapy 
included digoxin and propranolol and possibly something else?

Don't worry about what might or might not be correct (whatever that means). The 
issue is how you interpret "consisted of": as giving the full set of items or a 
sub-set of items.

Cheers

Geoffrey Marnell
Principal Consultant
Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd
P: 03 9596 3456
M: 0419 574 668
F: 03 9596 3625
W: www.abelard.com.au<http://www.abelard.com.au/>

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