Bad sentence wording ~ Is it just me? English Majors weigh in

[Ex Post Facto]

http://www.mgwashington.com/index.p...ix-compliments-with-issues-at-gop-debate/355/

On Iraq, though, all but Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found.

 

[Ex Post Facto]

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jan/25/gop-rivals-mix-kudos-with-issues-at-debate/

Posted here as well. I know what they say, but when I read it in length it sounds like Ron Paul endorses BUSH's war. I'm not an English person, so someone in that department tell me whats wrong with the structure of the sentence.

 

[mczerone]

http://www.mgwashington.com/index.p...ix-compliments-with-issues-at-gop-debate/355/

On Iraq, though, all but Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found.

The Subject is "all", [but... Ron Paul... Texan] is acting as an adjective.

Simpler Sentence, without the mention of Paul, but with the same structure otherwise:

All [of the congressmen] endorsed the decision [for war].

 

[Ex Post Facto]

Then the sentence is misleading? A double-negative?

 

[StarKissed]

It is definitely misleading. I think they need to retract.

I give them a "D" for this class.

 

[Syren123]

http://www.mgwashington.com/index.p...ix-compliments-with-issues-at-gop-debate/355/

On Iraq, though, all but Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found.

As awkward as it sounds, this sentence is grammatically correct.
It say 'all but' Ron Paul. You have to follow the subject (all) and the verb (endorsed) to see that it makes sense. Using the preposition 'but' excludes Ron Paul from the action of the verb.

Once an English teacher, always an English teacher.

 

[Ex Post Facto]

Ah here is the error then.

On Iraq, though, all but Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found.

'saying' refers to the word 'all' yet the sentence lists several people. So it's confusing who is saying what. I think thats where my confusion comes from. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Dave Pedersen]

On Iraq, though, all but Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found.

By the time the word "endorsed" arrives the subject is forgotten and replaced by the most recently read name. The trick to doing that is the additional descriptive "a libertarian leaning Texan" interjected before the action. After reading the interjection the reader will almost always only remember the name of Ron Paul prior to it and not retain the fact that Ron Paul was identified as the exception. Remove the interjection and the mind can retain the connection between Ron Paul and the fact he was the exception. Also compounding this likelihood is the lack of proper elaboration of who the word "all" refers to. If the writer were to say who the word "all" refers to, to clearly identify who "all" are, then again the mind could retain the fact that Ron Paul was the exception.

So then the word "all" is the subject which is denied clear definition and the exception is subsequently assigned a very excessive description.

 

[Ex Post Facto]

I swear, this is the kind of stuff that makes people think there is a conspiracy. It may be a well intentioned mistake, but then again the entire article is fine with that one exception, that changes the facts dramatically as they stand.

 

[Billy Budd]

In browsing google news, search Ron Paul.. by date... I saw at least three sub headlines that were cut off and it made it look like Ron Paul said he endorsed the invasion..

 

[rp08orbust]

The sentence is fine, though it might be clearer as follows:

On Iraq, though, with the exception of Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, all endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found.

 

[thefred]

it is correct grammatically to me...but using such wording is surely to put him in line with bad things like war, bush...

 

[Ex Post Facto]

The sentence is fine, though it might be clearer as follows:

On Iraq, though, with the exception of Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, all endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found.

I agree, they should have written it more clearly.

 

[homah]

It is technically a proper sentence, but I would have written it as follows for the sake of clarity:

"On Iraq, though, all candidates—with the exception of Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan—endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it regardless of whether weapons of mass destruction have since been found."

 

[forsmant]

All is a singular noun referring to the group. The sentence is grammatically correct. Quit whining.

Think of it as we all say or we all says

 

[Eponym_mi]

That sentence was horrible! This would have been clearer...

With the exception of Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Texan, all other candidates endorsed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, saying it was worth it even though weapons of mass destruction were not found.