Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
over five percent more money
English answer:
increase in excess of five percent
Added to glossary by
Yongmei Liu
Sep 6, 2003 18:11
20 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
United States
ATA Certified & Calif. Court Certified
Native in: Chinese
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English
over five percent more money
English
Art/Literary
"In any year when the City collects over five percent more money than it collected in the previous year, the City would reserve half of this money for the RDR fund, one quarter for capital and other one-time spending, and one quarter for unrestricted use."
Okay, if the City collected 100M in 2002, and 110M in 2003, how much is "this money" that is going to the different places? I think the author meant 5M, but could it also be construed as 10M?
A good example of bad writing?
Okay, if the City collected 100M in 2002, and 110M in 2003, how much is "this money" that is going to the different places? I think the author meant 5M, but could it also be construed as 10M?
A good example of bad writing?
Responses
| 4 +8 | What is over the 5% increase |
pcovs
|
| 5 +4 | what's wrong with the writing? |
sarahl (X)
|
Responses
+8
37 mins
Selected
What is over the 5% increase
I see your point. To my mind this is not as clear as it could be. However, I believe that the first 5% more money than collected last year is always kept for the City. Whatever money is collected above that 5% increase will be divided as follows:"...".
If taken to court, I'm rather sure the above meaning would be the one supported by the court, so the 'bad writing' thing only applies if you're in a hurry or unfamiliar with this style when reading this sentence.
HTH
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-06 18:55:26 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To Sarahl: Whenever you have percentages you should be able to work out an example - using real figures. That is usually what percentages are for, and that, I believe, was the askers question; how much of the surplus compared to last year\'s collections will be reserved for other purposes: everything above the 5% increase or the total increase compared to last year?
The asker did not ask for a definition of the percentages going to the RDR fund etc.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-06 19:02:17 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To Sarahl, again - the new budget is NOT the starting 100%!!! The budget from the previous year is the starting 100%. Please read the text:
Year 1 - Collected: 100%
Year 2 - Collected: 100% plus 5%+
In your example, there would be nothing to reserve for other purposes: \"If the City collects more than 5% more than it does this year, this money will be reserved for...\"
Hmmmm?
If taken to court, I'm rather sure the above meaning would be the one supported by the court, so the 'bad writing' thing only applies if you're in a hurry or unfamiliar with this style when reading this sentence.
HTH
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-06 18:55:26 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To Sarahl: Whenever you have percentages you should be able to work out an example - using real figures. That is usually what percentages are for, and that, I believe, was the askers question; how much of the surplus compared to last year\'s collections will be reserved for other purposes: everything above the 5% increase or the total increase compared to last year?
The asker did not ask for a definition of the percentages going to the RDR fund etc.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-06 19:02:17 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To Sarahl, again - the new budget is NOT the starting 100%!!! The budget from the previous year is the starting 100%. Please read the text:
Year 1 - Collected: 100%
Year 2 - Collected: 100% plus 5%+
In your example, there would be nothing to reserve for other purposes: \"If the City collects more than 5% more than it does this year, this money will be reserved for...\"
Hmmmm?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kirill Semenov
15 mins
|
|
Thank you very much. ;o)
|
|
| agree |
Fuad Yahya
: Replace "this money" with "the amount in excess of 5%." Poor writing it is. There is no telling how it would be read in a court of law.
27 mins
|
|
Fair enough regarding the court decision - jumping a little here. The way you wrote it makes it completely clear - i.e. I'm afraid I have to admit it IS rather poor writing. OK. Thanks a bunch :o)
|
|
| agree |
DGK T-I
: agree PCovs & Fuad ~
1 hr
|
|
Hello Giuli and cheers! ;o)
|
|
| agree |
ntouzet (X)
2 hrs
|
|
Cheers! :o)
|
|
| agree |
Alaa Zeineldine
3 hrs
|
|
Cheers! :o)
|
|
| agree |
ayang
4 hrs
|
|
Cheers! :o)
|
|
| agree |
Rajan Chopra
6 hrs
|
|
Cheers! :o)
|
|
| agree |
AhmedAMS
6 days
|
|
Cheers! :o)
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you.
Thanks also go to Fuad Yahya."
+4
18 mins
what's wrong with the writing?
I think the meaning is perfectly clear here: 50% of the budget for RDR, 25 % for one-time spending, and the remaining 25% not earmarked. I only see percentages here, no figures.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-06 19:31:03 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
You\'re right, PCovs, the 100% is not the starting budget here. I still don\'t see the problem here!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-06 19:31:03 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
You\'re right, PCovs, the 100% is not the starting budget here. I still don\'t see the problem here!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Marie Scarano
7 mins
|
|
Thanks, Marie!
|
|
| neutral |
pcovs
: I actually see Yongmei's point: "If over 5% is collected, half this money is..." - only what is over 5% more than last year or whatever more is collected?
12 mins
|
|
We have no figures here, only percentages.
|
|
| agree |
Roddy Stegemann
: (105 - 100) / 100 = 0.05 = 5%. This 5% is then divided as Sarah and the author suggests.
21 mins
|
|
Thanks, Hamo, but I don't think it's that complicated. The new budget is the starting 100%.
|
|
| agree |
Mario Marcolin
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, Mario!
|
|
| agree |
Peter Linton (X)
: I agree - "this money" refers to just the portion over 5%.
15 hrs
|
|
Tak!
|
Discussion
To restate my question, what does "this money" make reference to - the entire growth over the previous year or just the portion that is over 5%?