English has almost as many rules as exceptions. The same words are
frequently used with different meaning. Thus, Rich's suggestion that the
alternate use of words is a "problem" suggests that the problem may lay
elsewhere. ;)
To: casnet <casnet@lists.casact.org>
From: RichSieger <"RichSieger @ CNI%KRAMER-WILSON CO.,
INC."@MCIMAIL.COM>
Date: 02/26/99 07:51:07 PM GMT
Subject: Grammar
Between studying for exams and reading for the job of for pleasure, I read
many insurance (and non-insurance) publications. For the most part the
publications are well written. However, there are a few pet peeves I've
developed from my many ours of reading, so I thought I'd vent on CASNET.
Insurer press releases like to say that their company has "lowered" rates.
I am not an English major, but I seem to remember that "lower" is an
adjective, not a verb. A better way to say it would be the company
"reduced" rates. One can say we have a lower rate level, but to say we
"lowered" our rates doesn't seem like proper grammar.
My favorite problems are in the usage of the words "since" or "as" instead
of "because." In publications, I'll see something like the following: "We
need to increase rates since our loss ratio is high." The proper usage for
"since" is when describing time, i.e. "It has been nine years since the
last U.S. Census." The former sentence should read, "We need to increase
rates because our loss ratio is high." "As" is used for similes, when one
thing is the same as another. "I am as happy as a lark." It doesn't seem
proper grammar when I read, "We will not revise our rates as our rate level
is adequate." It should read, "We will not revise our rates because our
rate level is adequate."
I'll bet this missive has grammar errors, so feel free to take your shots
(my e-mail is richsieger@cnico.com). But I thought these little tidbits
might enhance the quality of what I think are very well written works.
Rich Sieger
Rich S.
Visit the CAS Web Site at http://www.casact.org
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