1 Response to Not Because- Thecommoncase

1. davidbdale says:

   April 20, 2021 at 8:23 am

   1. An employer is unable to fire a person who has anxiety because they are taking the correct medication to deal with the issue.
      —Not bad, but “inability” does not exactly factor here. You wouldn’t say, “I am unable to drive fast here because the speed limit prohibits it.” But there is a word in my quotation that hints at the verb that you could use without “not” that would prevent a law-abiding employer from an unlawful firing.

   2. Employees never get fired for going out and having a few beers after work because alcohol is legal, but in Colorado so is marijuana.
      —Here your “never” acts as a “not.” It’s the same as saying “Employees are not fired for going out because . . . ” And THAT is ambiguous. If not for going out, what ARE employees fired for?

   3. It is unjustifiable to fire Coats because he was trying to treat the pain he endured on a daily basis.
      —I see the effort, but do you need the word “because” at all? There’s a much less ambiguous way to say the same thing.

   4. It’s unfair to discriminate against him because he was able to ease the pain of his multiple spasms by using marijuana.
      —The same question applies here.

   BACKGROUND FOR 7-10: The director of the Secret Service ordered an internal review of its security procedures around the White House after a man armed with a knife who jumped the fence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Friday night managed to make his way through the front door of President Obama’s home before being stopped, officials said Saturday.

   1. Omar Gonzalez was unable to penetrate deep into the White House because of the swift actions of Secret Service agents.
      —This is the same as saying “Gonzalez was not able because.” What positive action did the SS take? These puzzles can always be solved by finding the best active verb.

   2. The Secret Service believes that it’s unnecessary to explain its actions because of the way it responded to the breach of the White House, but how the breach occurred is under question.
      —”because of the way it responded to the breach of the White House” could be exemplary, brilliant, unlawful, dunderheaded, or treasonous. Does the SS DEFEND its response? Has it APOLOGIZED for its response? Will it be PROSECUTED for its response? Clarity comes from choosing the best verb.

   3. Secret Service chief Julia Pierson was saved from being fired because of her testimony before Congress yesterday. Her incompetence might cost her her job though.
      —Not bad, but can you give me a version without “because”?

   4. Secret Service agents felt no need to use deadly force against the intruder because he was carrying a knife with a 4-inch blade.
      —I’m confused. Why then DID the agents use deadly force?

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