Can I use “if any” in this sentence?
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I want to express that a computer is rarely updated, and that I am in doubt that there will be any update at all. I would like to say it this way:
The computer is unlikely to be updated, if any.
Now the sentence sounds me wrong because it seems as if "if any" would require an amount to be explicitly stated, as in this sentence:
The computer is unlikely to receive any update, if any.
So I wonder whether the first sentence is correct or I should resort to something like... "if even at all"?.
expressions
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
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up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I want to express that a computer is rarely updated, and that I am in doubt that there will be any update at all. I would like to say it this way:
The computer is unlikely to be updated, if any.
Now the sentence sounds me wrong because it seems as if "if any" would require an amount to be explicitly stated, as in this sentence:
The computer is unlikely to receive any update, if any.
So I wonder whether the first sentence is correct or I should resort to something like... "if even at all"?.
expressions
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
1233
New contributor
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I want to express that a computer is rarely updated, and that I am in doubt that there will be any update at all. I would like to say it this way:
The computer is unlikely to be updated, if any.
Now the sentence sounds me wrong because it seems as if "if any" would require an amount to be explicitly stated, as in this sentence:
The computer is unlikely to receive any update, if any.
So I wonder whether the first sentence is correct or I should resort to something like... "if even at all"?.
expressions
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
1233
New contributor
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I want to express that a computer is rarely updated, and that I am in doubt that there will be any update at all. I would like to say it this way:
The computer is unlikely to be updated, if any.
Now the sentence sounds me wrong because it seems as if "if any" would require an amount to be explicitly stated, as in this sentence:
The computer is unlikely to receive any update, if any.
So I wonder whether the first sentence is correct or I should resort to something like... "if even at all"?.
expressions
expressions
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
1233
New contributor
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
1233
New contributor
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
1233
New contributor
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
1233
asked Dec 12 at 13:09
D1X
1233
1233
New contributor
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
D1X is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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active
oldest
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up vote
18
down vote
accepted
The phrases "if any", "if at all", "if ever", etc. are used to indicate the very minimum occurrence of something. In statements of likelihood or probability, they emphasize that even the bare minimum may be unlikely. However the emphasis only makes sense if it contrasts against the rest of the sentence, so the rest of the statement should deal with more than the bare minimum.
Your example sentences already mention the minimum: "any update" does so explicitly, while "unlikely to be updated" does so implicitly. As such, adding "if any" at the end doesn't really work, because the sentences already convey that meaning without it. Better sentences that include "if any/ever/at all" phrases would be:
The computer is unlikely to be updated much, if at all.
The computer is unlikely to be updated often, if ever.
The computer is unlikely to receive many updates, if any.
In the first sentence, "if at all" is used to contrast with "much". Because this sentence concerns the frequency of an action, "if ever" could be used instead of "if at all", but "if any" would not make sense.
In the second sentence, "if ever" is used to contrast with "often". This sentence also concerns the frequency of an action, so "if at all" would also work, but "if any" would not work here either.
In the third sentence, "if any" is used to contrast with "many". Because this sentence concerns the number of occurrences of a thing, "if ever" and "if at all" would not make sense.
Think of these phrases as a way to say, "It is unlikely that something will happen even a single time, so it is very unlikely that it will happen multiple times.
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
4
It's worth noting that the original sentence alone, "The computer is unlikely to be updated", already seems to convey what the asker wanted without any further elaboration.
– Kamil Drakari
Dec 12 at 18:29
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Where "any" refers to the likelihood of updates rather than to the updates themselves, one could write:
There is little if any likelihood of this computer having been updated.
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
The phrases "if any", "if at all", "if ever", etc. are used to indicate the very minimum occurrence of something. In statements of likelihood or probability, they emphasize that even the bare minimum may be unlikely. However the emphasis only makes sense if it contrasts against the rest of the sentence, so the rest of the statement should deal with more than the bare minimum.
Your example sentences already mention the minimum: "any update" does so explicitly, while "unlikely to be updated" does so implicitly. As such, adding "if any" at the end doesn't really work, because the sentences already convey that meaning without it. Better sentences that include "if any/ever/at all" phrases would be:
The computer is unlikely to be updated much, if at all.
The computer is unlikely to be updated often, if ever.
The computer is unlikely to receive many updates, if any.
In the first sentence, "if at all" is used to contrast with "much". Because this sentence concerns the frequency of an action, "if ever" could be used instead of "if at all", but "if any" would not make sense.
In the second sentence, "if ever" is used to contrast with "often". This sentence also concerns the frequency of an action, so "if at all" would also work, but "if any" would not work here either.
In the third sentence, "if any" is used to contrast with "many". Because this sentence concerns the number of occurrences of a thing, "if ever" and "if at all" would not make sense.
Think of these phrases as a way to say, "It is unlikely that something will happen even a single time, so it is very unlikely that it will happen multiple times.
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
4
It's worth noting that the original sentence alone, "The computer is unlikely to be updated", already seems to convey what the asker wanted without any further elaboration.
– Kamil Drakari
Dec 12 at 18:29
add a comment |
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
The phrases "if any", "if at all", "if ever", etc. are used to indicate the very minimum occurrence of something. In statements of likelihood or probability, they emphasize that even the bare minimum may be unlikely. However the emphasis only makes sense if it contrasts against the rest of the sentence, so the rest of the statement should deal with more than the bare minimum.
Your example sentences already mention the minimum: "any update" does so explicitly, while "unlikely to be updated" does so implicitly. As such, adding "if any" at the end doesn't really work, because the sentences already convey that meaning without it. Better sentences that include "if any/ever/at all" phrases would be:
The computer is unlikely to be updated much, if at all.
The computer is unlikely to be updated often, if ever.
The computer is unlikely to receive many updates, if any.
In the first sentence, "if at all" is used to contrast with "much". Because this sentence concerns the frequency of an action, "if ever" could be used instead of "if at all", but "if any" would not make sense.
In the second sentence, "if ever" is used to contrast with "often". This sentence also concerns the frequency of an action, so "if at all" would also work, but "if any" would not work here either.
In the third sentence, "if any" is used to contrast with "many". Because this sentence concerns the number of occurrences of a thing, "if ever" and "if at all" would not make sense.
Think of these phrases as a way to say, "It is unlikely that something will happen even a single time, so it is very unlikely that it will happen multiple times.
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
4
It's worth noting that the original sentence alone, "The computer is unlikely to be updated", already seems to convey what the asker wanted without any further elaboration.
– Kamil Drakari
Dec 12 at 18:29
add a comment |
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
up vote
18
down vote
accepted
The phrases "if any", "if at all", "if ever", etc. are used to indicate the very minimum occurrence of something. In statements of likelihood or probability, they emphasize that even the bare minimum may be unlikely. However the emphasis only makes sense if it contrasts against the rest of the sentence, so the rest of the statement should deal with more than the bare minimum.
Your example sentences already mention the minimum: "any update" does so explicitly, while "unlikely to be updated" does so implicitly. As such, adding "if any" at the end doesn't really work, because the sentences already convey that meaning without it. Better sentences that include "if any/ever/at all" phrases would be:
The computer is unlikely to be updated much, if at all.
The computer is unlikely to be updated often, if ever.
The computer is unlikely to receive many updates, if any.
In the first sentence, "if at all" is used to contrast with "much". Because this sentence concerns the frequency of an action, "if ever" could be used instead of "if at all", but "if any" would not make sense.
In the second sentence, "if ever" is used to contrast with "often". This sentence also concerns the frequency of an action, so "if at all" would also work, but "if any" would not work here either.
In the third sentence, "if any" is used to contrast with "many". Because this sentence concerns the number of occurrences of a thing, "if ever" and "if at all" would not make sense.
Think of these phrases as a way to say, "It is unlikely that something will happen even a single time, so it is very unlikely that it will happen multiple times.
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
The phrases "if any", "if at all", "if ever", etc. are used to indicate the very minimum occurrence of something. In statements of likelihood or probability, they emphasize that even the bare minimum may be unlikely. However the emphasis only makes sense if it contrasts against the rest of the sentence, so the rest of the statement should deal with more than the bare minimum.
Your example sentences already mention the minimum: "any update" does so explicitly, while "unlikely to be updated" does so implicitly. As such, adding "if any" at the end doesn't really work, because the sentences already convey that meaning without it. Better sentences that include "if any/ever/at all" phrases would be:
The computer is unlikely to be updated much, if at all.
The computer is unlikely to be updated often, if ever.
The computer is unlikely to receive many updates, if any.
In the first sentence, "if at all" is used to contrast with "much". Because this sentence concerns the frequency of an action, "if ever" could be used instead of "if at all", but "if any" would not make sense.
In the second sentence, "if ever" is used to contrast with "often". This sentence also concerns the frequency of an action, so "if at all" would also work, but "if any" would not work here either.
In the third sentence, "if any" is used to contrast with "many". Because this sentence concerns the number of occurrences of a thing, "if ever" and "if at all" would not make sense.
Think of these phrases as a way to say, "It is unlikely that something will happen even a single time, so it is very unlikely that it will happen multiple times.
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
edited Dec 12 at 18:33
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
answered Dec 12 at 14:29
Tashus
3,368316
3,368316
4
It's worth noting that the original sentence alone, "The computer is unlikely to be updated", already seems to convey what the asker wanted without any further elaboration.
– Kamil Drakari
Dec 12 at 18:29
add a comment |
4
It's worth noting that the original sentence alone, "The computer is unlikely to be updated", already seems to convey what the asker wanted without any further elaboration.
– Kamil Drakari
Dec 12 at 18:29
4
4
It's worth noting that the original sentence alone, "The computer is unlikely to be updated", already seems to convey what the asker wanted without any further elaboration.
– Kamil Drakari
Dec 12 at 18:29
It's worth noting that the original sentence alone, "The computer is unlikely to be updated", already seems to convey what the asker wanted without any further elaboration.
– Kamil Drakari
Dec 12 at 18:29
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Where "any" refers to the likelihood of updates rather than to the updates themselves, one could write:
There is little if any likelihood of this computer having been updated.
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Where "any" refers to the likelihood of updates rather than to the updates themselves, one could write:
There is little if any likelihood of this computer having been updated.
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Where "any" refers to the likelihood of updates rather than to the updates themselves, one could write:
There is little if any likelihood of this computer having been updated.
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
Where "any" refers to the likelihood of updates rather than to the updates themselves, one could write:
There is little if any likelihood of this computer having been updated.
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
answered Dec 12 at 18:37
Beanluc
1524
1524
add a comment |
add a comment |
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