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Grammar pedants - help please.

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Oct 2007 1:06pm, 24 Oct 2007 155 posts	Quote Pin Is ther such a thing as a precise estimate? Surely thats a contradiction in terms.
Maclennane Oct 2007 1:24pm, 24 Oct 2007 5,131 posts	Quote Pin Maclennane there's a chap in accounts who offers indicative costs which are 'more indicative' than previous ones. Does this mean thery're less based on fact or a more accurate indication
Oct 2007 1:26pm, 24 Oct 2007 10,893 posts	Quote Pin I suppose it depends on what your precision is and if at all you even state it. Say for example you give an estimate with a precision of + or - 50 quid...
Hendo Oct 2007 1:33pm, 24 Oct 2007 11,156 posts	Quote Pin Hendo In context (have gone for BB's suggestion); "We believe that these mechanisms have allowed us to best estimate the business mileage..."
Bree Oct 2007 1:35pm, 24 Oct 2007 575 posts	Quote Pin Bree Is that not a split infinitive, Hendo?
Stumpy Oct 2007 1:37pm, 24 Oct 2007 4,721 posts	Quote Pin Stumpy Hendo, shouldn't that be 'better estimate' as said before? better is being used as an adverb there, surely, not an adjective, so best is not appropriate. and even if it were being used as an adjective, surely the situation requires a comparative (i.e. better) not a superlative (best)?
Stumpy Oct 2007 1:38pm, 24 Oct 2007 4,722 posts	Quote Pin Stumpy and breeze, yes it is! (it niggled me from the first time he typed the sentence) however, tintyweb sources inform me that split infinitives are no longer the horrific crime that they once were. I don't know what the world is coming to
Oct 2007 1:39pm, 24 Oct 2007 10,896 posts	Quote Pin "We believe that these mechanisms have allowed us to arrive at the best estimate for business mileage..."
Snapstinget Oct 2007 1:41pm, 24 Oct 2007 318 posts	Quote Pin Snapstinget "We believe that these mechanisms have enabled us to arrive at the best estimate for (the) business mileage..." "allow" = "permission"; mechanisms don't give permission
Oct 2007 1:42pm, 24 Oct 2007 10,897 posts	Quote Pin Well spotted Snaps