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Pedants' corner

Quick help me with this sentence please !!

19 replies

olaflikeswarmhugs · 11/09/2014 21:16

... Work for an employer who is not a business whose goal is to make money ...

... Work for an employer which is not a business whose goal is to make money ...

...work for an employer that is not a business whose goal is to make money ...

Is one right or are they all wrong BlushBlush

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LineRunner · 11/09/2014 21:18

Tbh they all sound very clumsy. Do you want suggestions for a rewrite?

Stealthpolarbear · 11/09/2014 21:18

Third I'd say but don't really understand it

theendoftheendoftheend · 11/09/2014 21:19

Work for an employer that is a business whose goal is not to make money...?

olaflikeswarmhugs · 11/09/2014 21:20

That's not the complete sentence don't want to write the rest it might out me Blush

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olaflikeswarmhugs · 11/09/2014 21:20

Also thanks Smile

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ArfurFoulkesayke · 11/09/2014 21:21

2 or 3, probably 3. Tbh none of them are great, but I can't offer a credible alternative.

FunkyBoldRibena · 11/09/2014 21:21

Work for an employer which runs as a not for profit business.

WellWhoKnew · 11/09/2014 21:22

...work for a not-for-profit employer.

More concise.

The problem you have is a relative clause of a relative clause.

Head wrecking!

HeyMicky · 11/09/2014 21:23

I don't think you need 'that is a business". Otherwise agree with Theend

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 11/09/2014 21:23

...work for an employer whose business does not have "making money" as its primary goal.

Maybe?

gargalesis · 11/09/2014 21:23

work for an employer whose goal is not to make money

olaflikeswarmhugs · 11/09/2014 21:25

How's this ?

...and work for an employer whose goal is not to make money , but a public service whose goal is to provide care for people who need it .

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BiscuitMillionaire · 11/09/2014 21:29

Strictly speaking it should be 'that' not 'which' in this case, as the second part of the sentence is essential to the meaning, not an additional piece. 'Who' is wrong because it's not a person but a business or other organisation. So number 3 is the best option. But Funky's rewrite is much better.

gargalesis · 11/09/2014 21:31

that doesn't sound right. it would have to be something like:

not to work for an employer whose goal is to make money, but a public service which provides care for people who need it .

(there are too many goals in your last sentence, and the two halves don't agree)

NomNomDePlum · 11/09/2014 21:36

nah, you can use which or that since its a restrictive relative clause, you just can't use that for a non-restrictive relative clause. don't need the information? comma, which. do need the information? no comma, that or which.

you can't use who, though, it's a business, not a person.

...work for a non-profit organisation.

iklboo · 11/09/2014 21:44

....Work for an employer whose main focus is not profit, but providing care for those that need it?

bumpertobumper · 11/09/2014 21:44

I initially read it to mean the employer is not a business, but did want to make money. portion just me but not totally clear.
not for profit usually indicates a charity or campaigning org. would 'social enterprise' fit? ... work for a social enterprise... (they often are for profit but that is not the primary aim)

bumpertobumper · 11/09/2014 21:45

probably not portion

olaflikeswarmhugs · 11/09/2014 22:06

Thanks MNers but I gave up and chucked it GrinGrin

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