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_Alex_
Joined: 21 Oct 2014
Last visit: 27 Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 33
Location: Ukraine
Schools: CBS '20 Duke '20 Ross '20 Darden '20 Johnson '20 McCombs '20 Kenan-Flagler '20 Tepper '20 McDonough '20 Kelley '20
GMAT 1: 680 Q48 V35
GPA: 3.05
Schools: CBS '20 Duke '20 Ross '20 Darden '20 Johnson '20 McCombs '20 Kenan-Flagler '20 Tepper '20 McDonough '20 Kelley '20
GMAT 1: 680 Q48 V35
Posts: 2
Kudos:
5
23 Dec 2016, 04:48
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Hi Experts,
Please consider this sentence, which is correct as per the source:
Significant declines in the use of firearms as a means TO suicide are widely documented with
identified links to the introduction of access restrictions.
(source e-gmat)
I know the rule:
as a means of == X is a type of Y
as a means to == X is a method to achieve Y
But I still think that 'as a means TO suicide' is incorrect and we should write 'as a means OF suicide' instead.
I googled both phrases and could find both of them used in publications. So I am now confused which usage is correct on gmat.
Magoosh's examples look kinda similar to me and they use 'means OF' instead of 'means TO'.
Correct example 1: Dining out only seldom is a means of saving money.
Correct example 2: Hand gestures alone do not always suffice as a means of communication.
(source magoosh)
Please consider this sentence, which is correct as per the source:
Significant declines in the use of firearms as a means TO suicide are widely documented with
identified links to the introduction of access restrictions.
(source e-gmat)
I know the rule:
as a means of == X is a type of Y
as a means to == X is a method to achieve Y
But I still think that 'as a means TO suicide' is incorrect and we should write 'as a means OF suicide' instead.
I googled both phrases and could find both of them used in publications. So I am now confused which usage is correct on gmat.
Magoosh's examples look kinda similar to me and they use 'means OF' instead of 'means TO'.
Correct example 1: Dining out only seldom is a means of saving money.
Correct example 2: Hand gestures alone do not always suffice as a means of communication.
(source magoosh)
26 Dec 2016, 20:20
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_Alex_
Dear _Alex_,
I'm happy to respond.
I will say that on this particular question, I disagree strenuously with the source's opinion.
"means to suicide" sounds incredibly awkward and unidiomatic. No native speaker says this.
"means of suicide" sounds perfectly nature. This is what a native speaker would say.
The "use of firearms," in this context, is an example of a suicide method. "Means of" is correct.
If we were talking about another activity that wasn't obviously related to suicide, say eating fast food every day, and we wanted to say that the person's secret goal in doing this activity was suicide, then even then, we would never used the language "means to suicide." That is a grossly unnatural construction. We would use other language to express the goal (e.g. "with suicidal intent").
Does this make sense?
Mike
