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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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"as good OF A player"
torpeau
Left coast of FL
97 Posts
(Offline)
1
2015/01/11 - 5:40am

The Tampa Bay Rays just traded away a fan favorite, and this was in the St. Petersburg paper this morning.  I would have said or written that as simply "as good a player."  Adding the additional two little words (of & a) seems unnecessary and maybe even a little awkward.  Also seems to me that shorter is almost always better unless the meaning is distorted.  Am I alone in my opinion?

deaconB
744 Posts
(Offline)
2
2015/01/11 - 8:29am

No, you're not alone.  Shorter sentences and simple language tend to give much more impact to your writing.

I'd opt for "as good a player" being optimal; "as good player" sounds too Western Unionish.

You'd probably find me writing "as good of a player", though.  Conversational style tends to be easy reading, even if it's less punchy, and in conversational English, people do tend to say "as gooduva player".

Guest
3
2015/01/11 - 8:17pm

deaconB said
people do tend to say "as gooduva player".

Not at my house!

Guest
4
2015/01/12 - 3:14am

There is more discussion of this construction here:
not that good of a team

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