Can I use the word ''precedent'' in this example?
Example sentence with precedent.
''He rarely picked up the phone, so he created a bad precedent for himself.''
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
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add a comment |
Example sentence with precedent.
''He rarely picked up the phone, so he created a bad precedent for himself.''
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
New contributor
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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1
I don't see why that makes it bad. I'm also not sure if precedent is the right word in this case. Typically, it's used in a legal sense, where certain rulings can be used as a basis (or precedent) for future rulings. Or it's used as a justification for doing the same thing again or for somebody else to do it. Something unique sets a precedent. In this example, it's more like he established a pattern, giving other people the expectation that he would not answer the phone. (But the reason for it being bad is still not clear.)
– Jason Bassford
7 hours ago
What I meant to say is, that the person who doesn't pick up the phone makes a precedent, that he usually doesn't pick up the phone. Isn't this a bad thing.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Not eating your vegetables and getting away with it sets a (perhaps bad) precedent that there are no consequences for not eating your vegetables. Not answering your phone may (in terms of how the word is normally used) set a precedent that you don't have to answer your phone. Or, if nothing bad happens if you don't answer the phone, sets a precedent that not answering the phone results in nothing bad. But typically (although not always) a precedent requires something to only happen once. And there is a correlation between that thing and something else.
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
''He rarely picked up the phone, as he had a bad precedent for this.''
– lbf
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Example sentence with precedent.
''He rarely picked up the phone, so he created a bad precedent for himself.''
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
New contributor
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Example sentence with precedent.
''He rarely picked up the phone, so he created a bad precedent for himself.''
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
New contributor
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
New contributor
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
New contributor
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
asked 12 hours ago
Aleksandar StefanovAleksandar Stefanov
1
1
New contributor
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I don't see why that makes it bad. I'm also not sure if precedent is the right word in this case. Typically, it's used in a legal sense, where certain rulings can be used as a basis (or precedent) for future rulings. Or it's used as a justification for doing the same thing again or for somebody else to do it. Something unique sets a precedent. In this example, it's more like he established a pattern, giving other people the expectation that he would not answer the phone. (But the reason for it being bad is still not clear.)
– Jason Bassford
7 hours ago
What I meant to say is, that the person who doesn't pick up the phone makes a precedent, that he usually doesn't pick up the phone. Isn't this a bad thing.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Not eating your vegetables and getting away with it sets a (perhaps bad) precedent that there are no consequences for not eating your vegetables. Not answering your phone may (in terms of how the word is normally used) set a precedent that you don't have to answer your phone. Or, if nothing bad happens if you don't answer the phone, sets a precedent that not answering the phone results in nothing bad. But typically (although not always) a precedent requires something to only happen once. And there is a correlation between that thing and something else.
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
''He rarely picked up the phone, as he had a bad precedent for this.''
– lbf
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1
I don't see why that makes it bad. I'm also not sure if precedent is the right word in this case. Typically, it's used in a legal sense, where certain rulings can be used as a basis (or precedent) for future rulings. Or it's used as a justification for doing the same thing again or for somebody else to do it. Something unique sets a precedent. In this example, it's more like he established a pattern, giving other people the expectation that he would not answer the phone. (But the reason for it being bad is still not clear.)
– Jason Bassford
7 hours ago
What I meant to say is, that the person who doesn't pick up the phone makes a precedent, that he usually doesn't pick up the phone. Isn't this a bad thing.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Not eating your vegetables and getting away with it sets a (perhaps bad) precedent that there are no consequences for not eating your vegetables. Not answering your phone may (in terms of how the word is normally used) set a precedent that you don't have to answer your phone. Or, if nothing bad happens if you don't answer the phone, sets a precedent that not answering the phone results in nothing bad. But typically (although not always) a precedent requires something to only happen once. And there is a correlation between that thing and something else.
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
''He rarely picked up the phone, as he had a bad precedent for this.''
– lbf
4 hours ago
1
1
I don't see why that makes it bad. I'm also not sure if precedent is the right word in this case. Typically, it's used in a legal sense, where certain rulings can be used as a basis (or precedent) for future rulings. Or it's used as a justification for doing the same thing again or for somebody else to do it. Something unique sets a precedent. In this example, it's more like he established a pattern, giving other people the expectation that he would not answer the phone. (But the reason for it being bad is still not clear.)
– Jason Bassford
7 hours ago
I don't see why that makes it bad. I'm also not sure if precedent is the right word in this case. Typically, it's used in a legal sense, where certain rulings can be used as a basis (or precedent) for future rulings. Or it's used as a justification for doing the same thing again or for somebody else to do it. Something unique sets a precedent. In this example, it's more like he established a pattern, giving other people the expectation that he would not answer the phone. (But the reason for it being bad is still not clear.)
– Jason Bassford
7 hours ago
What I meant to say is, that the person who doesn't pick up the phone makes a precedent, that he usually doesn't pick up the phone. Isn't this a bad thing.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
What I meant to say is, that the person who doesn't pick up the phone makes a precedent, that he usually doesn't pick up the phone. Isn't this a bad thing.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Not eating your vegetables and getting away with it sets a (perhaps bad) precedent that there are no consequences for not eating your vegetables. Not answering your phone may (in terms of how the word is normally used) set a precedent that you don't have to answer your phone. Or, if nothing bad happens if you don't answer the phone, sets a precedent that not answering the phone results in nothing bad. But typically (although not always) a precedent requires something to only happen once. And there is a correlation between that thing and something else.
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
Not eating your vegetables and getting away with it sets a (perhaps bad) precedent that there are no consequences for not eating your vegetables. Not answering your phone may (in terms of how the word is normally used) set a precedent that you don't have to answer your phone. Or, if nothing bad happens if you don't answer the phone, sets a precedent that not answering the phone results in nothing bad. But typically (although not always) a precedent requires something to only happen once. And there is a correlation between that thing and something else.
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
''He rarely picked up the phone, as he had a bad precedent for this.''
– lbf
4 hours ago
''He rarely picked up the phone, as he had a bad precedent for this.''
– lbf
4 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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It's a rather odd thing to say, but it is grammatical and its meaning is reasonably clear.
It's odd because what is not clear is in whose mind the precedent has been established: is it saying that the person who is calling will now expect him to pick up the phone? Or that people around him will? Or that he himself is somehow now committed to picking it up? But if the context had been established, it could make sense.
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
Thank you for taking the time to asnwer. It is saying that the person who is calling will NOT expect him to pick up the phone, because from the numerous times he has been called, he rarely picked up. Thats why it is a bad precedent, it happenned myriad times.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Ah. I misunderstood your intention. This indicates that it is not very clear! (Though some context might have helped).
– Colin Fine
7 hours ago
add a comment |
While the sentence is grammatically correct, I think it does not mean what you want it to mean.
To set a precedent means to take an action in a situation such that when that same situation occurs again, the same action would be expected (or even required). This either occurs the first time a situation is encountered or the first time some different action is taken in response to a situation.
For example, some companies give new mothers (women who have just given birth) more time off than new fathers (men whose female partners have just given birth). Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the US, a company may for the first time be asked to state how much time off a woman is given when her partner gives birth. Whatever they decide the first time that happens will set a precedent for future similar cases.
If, in the future, they do something different, then they will break the (old) precedent and set a new precedent.
If someone "rarely" picks up a phone, that is not setting a precedent one way or the other, so I think your sentence is wrong based on what it means.
Perhaps you mean something like this:
Since he rarely answered the phone, he knew that taking her call would show he cared more about her than he would like to admit.
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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It's a rather odd thing to say, but it is grammatical and its meaning is reasonably clear.
It's odd because what is not clear is in whose mind the precedent has been established: is it saying that the person who is calling will now expect him to pick up the phone? Or that people around him will? Or that he himself is somehow now committed to picking it up? But if the context had been established, it could make sense.
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
Thank you for taking the time to asnwer. It is saying that the person who is calling will NOT expect him to pick up the phone, because from the numerous times he has been called, he rarely picked up. Thats why it is a bad precedent, it happenned myriad times.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Ah. I misunderstood your intention. This indicates that it is not very clear! (Though some context might have helped).
– Colin Fine
7 hours ago
add a comment |
It's a rather odd thing to say, but it is grammatical and its meaning is reasonably clear.
It's odd because what is not clear is in whose mind the precedent has been established: is it saying that the person who is calling will now expect him to pick up the phone? Or that people around him will? Or that he himself is somehow now committed to picking it up? But if the context had been established, it could make sense.
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
Thank you for taking the time to asnwer. It is saying that the person who is calling will NOT expect him to pick up the phone, because from the numerous times he has been called, he rarely picked up. Thats why it is a bad precedent, it happenned myriad times.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Ah. I misunderstood your intention. This indicates that it is not very clear! (Though some context might have helped).
– Colin Fine
7 hours ago
add a comment |
It's a rather odd thing to say, but it is grammatical and its meaning is reasonably clear.
It's odd because what is not clear is in whose mind the precedent has been established: is it saying that the person who is calling will now expect him to pick up the phone? Or that people around him will? Or that he himself is somehow now committed to picking it up? But if the context had been established, it could make sense.
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
It's a rather odd thing to say, but it is grammatical and its meaning is reasonably clear.
It's odd because what is not clear is in whose mind the precedent has been established: is it saying that the person who is calling will now expect him to pick up the phone? Or that people around him will? Or that he himself is somehow now committed to picking it up? But if the context had been established, it could make sense.
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
answered 11 hours ago
Colin FineColin Fine
64.5k173161
64.5k173161
Thank you for taking the time to asnwer. It is saying that the person who is calling will NOT expect him to pick up the phone, because from the numerous times he has been called, he rarely picked up. Thats why it is a bad precedent, it happenned myriad times.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Ah. I misunderstood your intention. This indicates that it is not very clear! (Though some context might have helped).
– Colin Fine
7 hours ago
add a comment |
Thank you for taking the time to asnwer. It is saying that the person who is calling will NOT expect him to pick up the phone, because from the numerous times he has been called, he rarely picked up. Thats why it is a bad precedent, it happenned myriad times.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Ah. I misunderstood your intention. This indicates that it is not very clear! (Though some context might have helped).
– Colin Fine
7 hours ago
Thank you for taking the time to asnwer. It is saying that the person who is calling will NOT expect him to pick up the phone, because from the numerous times he has been called, he rarely picked up. Thats why it is a bad precedent, it happenned myriad times.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Thank you for taking the time to asnwer. It is saying that the person who is calling will NOT expect him to pick up the phone, because from the numerous times he has been called, he rarely picked up. Thats why it is a bad precedent, it happenned myriad times.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Ah. I misunderstood your intention. This indicates that it is not very clear! (Though some context might have helped).
– Colin Fine
7 hours ago
Ah. I misunderstood your intention. This indicates that it is not very clear! (Though some context might have helped).
– Colin Fine
7 hours ago
add a comment |
While the sentence is grammatically correct, I think it does not mean what you want it to mean.
To set a precedent means to take an action in a situation such that when that same situation occurs again, the same action would be expected (or even required). This either occurs the first time a situation is encountered or the first time some different action is taken in response to a situation.
For example, some companies give new mothers (women who have just given birth) more time off than new fathers (men whose female partners have just given birth). Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the US, a company may for the first time be asked to state how much time off a woman is given when her partner gives birth. Whatever they decide the first time that happens will set a precedent for future similar cases.
If, in the future, they do something different, then they will break the (old) precedent and set a new precedent.
If someone "rarely" picks up a phone, that is not setting a precedent one way or the other, so I think your sentence is wrong based on what it means.
Perhaps you mean something like this:
Since he rarely answered the phone, he knew that taking her call would show he cared more about her than he would like to admit.
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
add a comment |
While the sentence is grammatically correct, I think it does not mean what you want it to mean.
To set a precedent means to take an action in a situation such that when that same situation occurs again, the same action would be expected (or even required). This either occurs the first time a situation is encountered or the first time some different action is taken in response to a situation.
For example, some companies give new mothers (women who have just given birth) more time off than new fathers (men whose female partners have just given birth). Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the US, a company may for the first time be asked to state how much time off a woman is given when her partner gives birth. Whatever they decide the first time that happens will set a precedent for future similar cases.
If, in the future, they do something different, then they will break the (old) precedent and set a new precedent.
If someone "rarely" picks up a phone, that is not setting a precedent one way or the other, so I think your sentence is wrong based on what it means.
Perhaps you mean something like this:
Since he rarely answered the phone, he knew that taking her call would show he cared more about her than he would like to admit.
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
add a comment |
While the sentence is grammatically correct, I think it does not mean what you want it to mean.
To set a precedent means to take an action in a situation such that when that same situation occurs again, the same action would be expected (or even required). This either occurs the first time a situation is encountered or the first time some different action is taken in response to a situation.
For example, some companies give new mothers (women who have just given birth) more time off than new fathers (men whose female partners have just given birth). Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the US, a company may for the first time be asked to state how much time off a woman is given when her partner gives birth. Whatever they decide the first time that happens will set a precedent for future similar cases.
If, in the future, they do something different, then they will break the (old) precedent and set a new precedent.
If someone "rarely" picks up a phone, that is not setting a precedent one way or the other, so I think your sentence is wrong based on what it means.
Perhaps you mean something like this:
Since he rarely answered the phone, he knew that taking her call would show he cared more about her than he would like to admit.
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
While the sentence is grammatically correct, I think it does not mean what you want it to mean.
To set a precedent means to take an action in a situation such that when that same situation occurs again, the same action would be expected (or even required). This either occurs the first time a situation is encountered or the first time some different action is taken in response to a situation.
For example, some companies give new mothers (women who have just given birth) more time off than new fathers (men whose female partners have just given birth). Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the US, a company may for the first time be asked to state how much time off a woman is given when her partner gives birth. Whatever they decide the first time that happens will set a precedent for future similar cases.
If, in the future, they do something different, then they will break the (old) precedent and set a new precedent.
If someone "rarely" picks up a phone, that is not setting a precedent one way or the other, so I think your sentence is wrong based on what it means.
Perhaps you mean something like this:
Since he rarely answered the phone, he knew that taking her call would show he cared more about her than he would like to admit.
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
answered 4 hours ago
Old ProOld Pro
2,3801917
2,3801917
add a comment |
add a comment |
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Aleksandar Stefanov is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
I don't see why that makes it bad. I'm also not sure if precedent is the right word in this case. Typically, it's used in a legal sense, where certain rulings can be used as a basis (or precedent) for future rulings. Or it's used as a justification for doing the same thing again or for somebody else to do it. Something unique sets a precedent. In this example, it's more like he established a pattern, giving other people the expectation that he would not answer the phone. (But the reason for it being bad is still not clear.)
– Jason Bassford
7 hours ago
What I meant to say is, that the person who doesn't pick up the phone makes a precedent, that he usually doesn't pick up the phone. Isn't this a bad thing.
– Aleksandar Stefanov
7 hours ago
Not eating your vegetables and getting away with it sets a (perhaps bad) precedent that there are no consequences for not eating your vegetables. Not answering your phone may (in terms of how the word is normally used) set a precedent that you don't have to answer your phone. Or, if nothing bad happens if you don't answer the phone, sets a precedent that not answering the phone results in nothing bad. But typically (although not always) a precedent requires something to only happen once. And there is a correlation between that thing and something else.
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
''He rarely picked up the phone, as he had a bad precedent for this.''
– lbf
4 hours ago