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the polarity of nutrients and pathogens pushes.....
Feb 2, 2007 15:48
17 yrs ago
English term

is restrained by lack of

English Tech/Engineering Metallurgy / Casting
I don't like the phrase "is restrained by lack of " (especially the word "lack") in the sentence below.

Can someone make a better suggestion ? or maybe "lack" is ok here ?

Another question is if the article "the" before "production" is necessry ?

===
Therefore, wide use of brown coals, long-flame coals and lean coals, which belong to the group of noncaking coals, for [the] production of coke is restrained by lack of a process for [the] production of coke from such coals, which process would ensure desired quality.
Responses
3 +4 is hindered because there is no
4 +1 See comments below...
4 is constrained by lack of
4 by lack of = due to the fact that there is no
4 is limited, perhaps
3 is constrained because there is no process

Discussion

Jack Doughty Feb 2, 2007:
I don't think the English is too bad considering this is almost certainly a patent. Read a few patents in English some time. You probably won't accept them as English either.
William [Bill] Gray Feb 2, 2007:
Here's my shot: Therefore, wide use of noncaking coals (brown coals, long-flame coals and lean coals) for [the] production of coke is restricted because there is no production process which gives the desired quality.
Tony M Feb 2, 2007:
Sarcasm will get you everwhere, Cilian!

But you're right of course: the English in this sentence is very stilted and flawed. Be that as it may, the meaning of "restrained" simply isn't correct here, one of the many possibly synonyms needs to be used
Alexander Onishko (asker) Feb 2, 2007:
hi, Cilian ! actually it was me who composed the target sentence ... my intention was to make it more clear and more English - and I see that I have failed :(

The original sentence was as follows:
===
A wide use of brown coals, long-flame coals and lean coals belonging to the group of noncaking coals for the production of coke is, thus, restrained by the lack of a process of the production of coke of a desired quality from them.
Cilian O'Tuama Feb 2, 2007:
it's just fine - fits in perfectly with the rest of the sentence. I'd return the text to my client and tell them it is not English.

Responses

+4
7 mins
Selected

is hindered because there is no

The whole sentence is somewhat convoluted. Could you simplify it?
Perhaps something like:

"Therefore, widespread use of brown coals, long-flame coals and lean coals, all of which are noncaking coals, in coke production is hindered because there is no process by which to produce coke from such coals that would ensure the desired quality."
Peer comment(s):
agree Marie-Hélène Hayles : although for further clarity I'd use " - all of which are non-caking coals - "
6 mins
yes... or perhaps even move nccs to later in the sentence: "...from such non-caking coals..."
agree Tony M : hindered or hampered gets my vote!
6 mins
thanks!
agree Alfa Trans (X)
3 hrs
agree William [Bill] Gray : hindered is good
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "many thanks to everybody !"
8 mins

is constrained because there is no process

How about:

Therefore, wide use of brown coals, long-flame coals and lean coals, which belong to the group of noncaking coals, for [the] production of coke is constrained {or restricted} because there is no process for [the] production of coke from such coals, which process would ensure desired quality.

But I have to agree with Cilian, this is VERY tortured English at best.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I think we're all agreed that it basically iisn't English at all; however, I don't honestly believe that the meaning of "constrained" is correct here
6 mins
Something went wrong...
10 mins

is constrained by lack of

I don't like "restrained" here, "constrained" is better. "Restricted" might do.
"By lack of" is OK. Coke production is constrained by the fact that there is no process for producing coke from the coals listed.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I don't honestly believe that the meaning of "constrained" is correct here; "restricted", OK / Sure, Jack: but does it really work used passively?
4 mins
One definition of "constrain" in the OED is "restrict severely".
Something went wrong...
5 mins

by lack of = due to the fact that there is no

But 'by lack of' is fine by me!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2007-02-02 15:56:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And, indeed, it is THE production of coke. Alternative: for producing coke.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2007-02-02 16:01:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: for coke production
Something went wrong...
+1
21 mins

See comments below...

"Hence more widespread use of brown, long-flame, and lean coals (classed as non-caking coals) for coke production is hampered by the lack of a suitable coking process for them that will yield coke of the desired quality."
Peer comment(s):
agree Peter Shortall : Very elegant, if I may say so! I do think using "coals" once instead of three times in the bit before the brackets helps
7 hrs
Thanks a lot, Peter! When in doubt, simplify to the essentials, eh?
Something went wrong...
43 mins

is limited, perhaps

My shot - a little shorter maybe, but logical nevertheless:

Therefore, widespread use of brown coals, long-flame coals and lean coals, all classified as non-caking coals, for producing coke is limited by the lack of a process which guarantees the production of coke of the desired quality.

After all, what would a "process for the production of coke" produce BUT coke??? (we hope...).
Something went wrong...
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