Is “balancing” noun or verb in the given context?












4















Here is a sentence from the description of a battle game.




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, balancing
armour, speed, and your cannon.




In the sentence, I am not sure if the word "balancing" is a verb or noun here. I am confused by the word "improve." It is not clear whether the player has the option to improve all the four things or simply "tracks".










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  • 2





    You've identified a problem with the sentence, not your understanding.

    – chrylis
    2 days ago











  • Can you link to the source (if it's online)? More information about the specific game may resolve the ambiguity. "Balancing armour" isn't exactly a known phrase, but it's possible that it's a phrase specific to the game, and acts as a compound noun.

    – Anthony Grist
    2 days ago
















4















Here is a sentence from the description of a battle game.




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, balancing
armour, speed, and your cannon.




In the sentence, I am not sure if the word "balancing" is a verb or noun here. I am confused by the word "improve." It is not clear whether the player has the option to improve all the four things or simply "tracks".










share|improve this question


















  • 2





    You've identified a problem with the sentence, not your understanding.

    – chrylis
    2 days ago











  • Can you link to the source (if it's online)? More information about the specific game may resolve the ambiguity. "Balancing armour" isn't exactly a known phrase, but it's possible that it's a phrase specific to the game, and acts as a compound noun.

    – Anthony Grist
    2 days ago














4












4








4


1






Here is a sentence from the description of a battle game.




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, balancing
armour, speed, and your cannon.




In the sentence, I am not sure if the word "balancing" is a verb or noun here. I am confused by the word "improve." It is not clear whether the player has the option to improve all the four things or simply "tracks".










share|improve this question














Here is a sentence from the description of a battle game.




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, balancing
armour, speed, and your cannon.




In the sentence, I am not sure if the word "balancing" is a verb or noun here. I am confused by the word "improve." It is not clear whether the player has the option to improve all the four things or simply "tracks".







meaning-in-context






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asked 2 days ago









curiouscurious

2821210




2821210








  • 2





    You've identified a problem with the sentence, not your understanding.

    – chrylis
    2 days ago











  • Can you link to the source (if it's online)? More information about the specific game may resolve the ambiguity. "Balancing armour" isn't exactly a known phrase, but it's possible that it's a phrase specific to the game, and acts as a compound noun.

    – Anthony Grist
    2 days ago














  • 2





    You've identified a problem with the sentence, not your understanding.

    – chrylis
    2 days ago











  • Can you link to the source (if it's online)? More information about the specific game may resolve the ambiguity. "Balancing armour" isn't exactly a known phrase, but it's possible that it's a phrase specific to the game, and acts as a compound noun.

    – Anthony Grist
    2 days ago








2




2





You've identified a problem with the sentence, not your understanding.

– chrylis
2 days ago





You've identified a problem with the sentence, not your understanding.

– chrylis
2 days ago













Can you link to the source (if it's online)? More information about the specific game may resolve the ambiguity. "Balancing armour" isn't exactly a known phrase, but it's possible that it's a phrase specific to the game, and acts as a compound noun.

– Anthony Grist
2 days ago





Can you link to the source (if it's online)? More information about the specific game may resolve the ambiguity. "Balancing armour" isn't exactly a known phrase, but it's possible that it's a phrase specific to the game, and acts as a compound noun.

– Anthony Grist
2 days ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5














I don't think this is a very well written or clear sentence. In the context I would understand it as




You can improve your "tracks"...




Tracks must be a jargon term in the game.




..., which has the effect of balancing three things:...




Balancing is a gerund here, the noun form of a verb.




... armour, speed and cannon.




I suppose in the game stronger armour means less speed or a weaker cannon. But better "tracks" means that you can carry more armour and a bigger cannon without slowing down.






share|improve this answer



















  • 5





    Would it be clearer if there was by: the option to improve your tracks by balancing armour, speed, and cannon?

    – Andrew Tobilko
    2 days ago








  • 1





    @AndrewTobilko: Your versions suggests that balancing leads to track improvement, but this answer seems to infer that track improvement leads to balancing. If the intended meaning is the latter, then it should be "to": "improve your tracks to balance your armor, speed, and cannon"

    – Flater
    2 days ago













  • @Flater the "by" interpretation is the one that makes sense.

    – hobbs
    2 days ago











  • @hobbs: If balancing leads to track improvement, I agree.

    – Flater
    2 days ago



















1














It makes sense to improve:




  • tracks;

  • speed;

  • cannon.


It does not make much sense to improve:




  • balancing armor.


Actually, what is that, a "balancing armor"?



But it can make sense if you use an additional comma: "improve ... balancing, armor ...", because you can apply improve to:




  • balancing;

  • armor.


I do not know what "balancing" would mean in the game, but I hope it makes sense.





Another way to make a sense out of this question is to use "by":




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, by balancing armour, speed, and your cannon.




with the meaning: You can improve your tracks according to the way you find a balance between armor, speed and cannon.






share|improve this answer





















  • 2





    "balancing armour" doesn't make sense, but "balancing armour, speed, and your cannon" does: you are balancing three things (armour, speed and cannon). I'm not saying the phrasing isn't flawed, but I think you're looking at it too narrowly by only focusing on "balancing armour".

    – Flater
    2 days ago











  • Yes, I am aware of this meaning, after reading the other answer. Thank you, though, for pointing it out.

    – virolino
    2 days ago












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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









5














I don't think this is a very well written or clear sentence. In the context I would understand it as




You can improve your "tracks"...




Tracks must be a jargon term in the game.




..., which has the effect of balancing three things:...




Balancing is a gerund here, the noun form of a verb.




... armour, speed and cannon.




I suppose in the game stronger armour means less speed or a weaker cannon. But better "tracks" means that you can carry more armour and a bigger cannon without slowing down.






share|improve this answer



















  • 5





    Would it be clearer if there was by: the option to improve your tracks by balancing armour, speed, and cannon?

    – Andrew Tobilko
    2 days ago








  • 1





    @AndrewTobilko: Your versions suggests that balancing leads to track improvement, but this answer seems to infer that track improvement leads to balancing. If the intended meaning is the latter, then it should be "to": "improve your tracks to balance your armor, speed, and cannon"

    – Flater
    2 days ago













  • @Flater the "by" interpretation is the one that makes sense.

    – hobbs
    2 days ago











  • @hobbs: If balancing leads to track improvement, I agree.

    – Flater
    2 days ago
















5














I don't think this is a very well written or clear sentence. In the context I would understand it as




You can improve your "tracks"...




Tracks must be a jargon term in the game.




..., which has the effect of balancing three things:...




Balancing is a gerund here, the noun form of a verb.




... armour, speed and cannon.




I suppose in the game stronger armour means less speed or a weaker cannon. But better "tracks" means that you can carry more armour and a bigger cannon without slowing down.






share|improve this answer



















  • 5





    Would it be clearer if there was by: the option to improve your tracks by balancing armour, speed, and cannon?

    – Andrew Tobilko
    2 days ago








  • 1





    @AndrewTobilko: Your versions suggests that balancing leads to track improvement, but this answer seems to infer that track improvement leads to balancing. If the intended meaning is the latter, then it should be "to": "improve your tracks to balance your armor, speed, and cannon"

    – Flater
    2 days ago













  • @Flater the "by" interpretation is the one that makes sense.

    – hobbs
    2 days ago











  • @hobbs: If balancing leads to track improvement, I agree.

    – Flater
    2 days ago














5












5








5







I don't think this is a very well written or clear sentence. In the context I would understand it as




You can improve your "tracks"...




Tracks must be a jargon term in the game.




..., which has the effect of balancing three things:...




Balancing is a gerund here, the noun form of a verb.




... armour, speed and cannon.




I suppose in the game stronger armour means less speed or a weaker cannon. But better "tracks" means that you can carry more armour and a bigger cannon without slowing down.






share|improve this answer













I don't think this is a very well written or clear sentence. In the context I would understand it as




You can improve your "tracks"...




Tracks must be a jargon term in the game.




..., which has the effect of balancing three things:...




Balancing is a gerund here, the noun form of a verb.




... armour, speed and cannon.




I suppose in the game stronger armour means less speed or a weaker cannon. But better "tracks" means that you can carry more armour and a bigger cannon without slowing down.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 2 days ago









James KJames K

39.2k14299




39.2k14299








  • 5





    Would it be clearer if there was by: the option to improve your tracks by balancing armour, speed, and cannon?

    – Andrew Tobilko
    2 days ago








  • 1





    @AndrewTobilko: Your versions suggests that balancing leads to track improvement, but this answer seems to infer that track improvement leads to balancing. If the intended meaning is the latter, then it should be "to": "improve your tracks to balance your armor, speed, and cannon"

    – Flater
    2 days ago













  • @Flater the "by" interpretation is the one that makes sense.

    – hobbs
    2 days ago











  • @hobbs: If balancing leads to track improvement, I agree.

    – Flater
    2 days ago














  • 5





    Would it be clearer if there was by: the option to improve your tracks by balancing armour, speed, and cannon?

    – Andrew Tobilko
    2 days ago








  • 1





    @AndrewTobilko: Your versions suggests that balancing leads to track improvement, but this answer seems to infer that track improvement leads to balancing. If the intended meaning is the latter, then it should be "to": "improve your tracks to balance your armor, speed, and cannon"

    – Flater
    2 days ago













  • @Flater the "by" interpretation is the one that makes sense.

    – hobbs
    2 days ago











  • @hobbs: If balancing leads to track improvement, I agree.

    – Flater
    2 days ago








5




5





Would it be clearer if there was by: the option to improve your tracks by balancing armour, speed, and cannon?

– Andrew Tobilko
2 days ago







Would it be clearer if there was by: the option to improve your tracks by balancing armour, speed, and cannon?

– Andrew Tobilko
2 days ago






1




1





@AndrewTobilko: Your versions suggests that balancing leads to track improvement, but this answer seems to infer that track improvement leads to balancing. If the intended meaning is the latter, then it should be "to": "improve your tracks to balance your armor, speed, and cannon"

– Flater
2 days ago







@AndrewTobilko: Your versions suggests that balancing leads to track improvement, but this answer seems to infer that track improvement leads to balancing. If the intended meaning is the latter, then it should be "to": "improve your tracks to balance your armor, speed, and cannon"

– Flater
2 days ago















@Flater the "by" interpretation is the one that makes sense.

– hobbs
2 days ago





@Flater the "by" interpretation is the one that makes sense.

– hobbs
2 days ago













@hobbs: If balancing leads to track improvement, I agree.

– Flater
2 days ago





@hobbs: If balancing leads to track improvement, I agree.

– Flater
2 days ago













1














It makes sense to improve:




  • tracks;

  • speed;

  • cannon.


It does not make much sense to improve:




  • balancing armor.


Actually, what is that, a "balancing armor"?



But it can make sense if you use an additional comma: "improve ... balancing, armor ...", because you can apply improve to:




  • balancing;

  • armor.


I do not know what "balancing" would mean in the game, but I hope it makes sense.





Another way to make a sense out of this question is to use "by":




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, by balancing armour, speed, and your cannon.




with the meaning: You can improve your tracks according to the way you find a balance between armor, speed and cannon.






share|improve this answer





















  • 2





    "balancing armour" doesn't make sense, but "balancing armour, speed, and your cannon" does: you are balancing three things (armour, speed and cannon). I'm not saying the phrasing isn't flawed, but I think you're looking at it too narrowly by only focusing on "balancing armour".

    – Flater
    2 days ago











  • Yes, I am aware of this meaning, after reading the other answer. Thank you, though, for pointing it out.

    – virolino
    2 days ago
















1














It makes sense to improve:




  • tracks;

  • speed;

  • cannon.


It does not make much sense to improve:




  • balancing armor.


Actually, what is that, a "balancing armor"?



But it can make sense if you use an additional comma: "improve ... balancing, armor ...", because you can apply improve to:




  • balancing;

  • armor.


I do not know what "balancing" would mean in the game, but I hope it makes sense.





Another way to make a sense out of this question is to use "by":




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, by balancing armour, speed, and your cannon.




with the meaning: You can improve your tracks according to the way you find a balance between armor, speed and cannon.






share|improve this answer





















  • 2





    "balancing armour" doesn't make sense, but "balancing armour, speed, and your cannon" does: you are balancing three things (armour, speed and cannon). I'm not saying the phrasing isn't flawed, but I think you're looking at it too narrowly by only focusing on "balancing armour".

    – Flater
    2 days ago











  • Yes, I am aware of this meaning, after reading the other answer. Thank you, though, for pointing it out.

    – virolino
    2 days ago














1












1








1







It makes sense to improve:




  • tracks;

  • speed;

  • cannon.


It does not make much sense to improve:




  • balancing armor.


Actually, what is that, a "balancing armor"?



But it can make sense if you use an additional comma: "improve ... balancing, armor ...", because you can apply improve to:




  • balancing;

  • armor.


I do not know what "balancing" would mean in the game, but I hope it makes sense.





Another way to make a sense out of this question is to use "by":




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, by balancing armour, speed, and your cannon.




with the meaning: You can improve your tracks according to the way you find a balance between armor, speed and cannon.






share|improve this answer















It makes sense to improve:




  • tracks;

  • speed;

  • cannon.


It does not make much sense to improve:




  • balancing armor.


Actually, what is that, a "balancing armor"?



But it can make sense if you use an additional comma: "improve ... balancing, armor ...", because you can apply improve to:




  • balancing;

  • armor.


I do not know what "balancing" would mean in the game, but I hope it makes sense.





Another way to make a sense out of this question is to use "by":




In the game, you have the option to improve your tracks, by balancing armour, speed, and your cannon.




with the meaning: You can improve your tracks according to the way you find a balance between armor, speed and cannon.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 2 days ago

























answered 2 days ago









virolinovirolino

2,9231730




2,9231730








  • 2





    "balancing armour" doesn't make sense, but "balancing armour, speed, and your cannon" does: you are balancing three things (armour, speed and cannon). I'm not saying the phrasing isn't flawed, but I think you're looking at it too narrowly by only focusing on "balancing armour".

    – Flater
    2 days ago











  • Yes, I am aware of this meaning, after reading the other answer. Thank you, though, for pointing it out.

    – virolino
    2 days ago














  • 2





    "balancing armour" doesn't make sense, but "balancing armour, speed, and your cannon" does: you are balancing three things (armour, speed and cannon). I'm not saying the phrasing isn't flawed, but I think you're looking at it too narrowly by only focusing on "balancing armour".

    – Flater
    2 days ago











  • Yes, I am aware of this meaning, after reading the other answer. Thank you, though, for pointing it out.

    – virolino
    2 days ago








2




2





"balancing armour" doesn't make sense, but "balancing armour, speed, and your cannon" does: you are balancing three things (armour, speed and cannon). I'm not saying the phrasing isn't flawed, but I think you're looking at it too narrowly by only focusing on "balancing armour".

– Flater
2 days ago





"balancing armour" doesn't make sense, but "balancing armour, speed, and your cannon" does: you are balancing three things (armour, speed and cannon). I'm not saying the phrasing isn't flawed, but I think you're looking at it too narrowly by only focusing on "balancing armour".

– Flater
2 days ago













Yes, I am aware of this meaning, after reading the other answer. Thank you, though, for pointing it out.

– virolino
2 days ago





Yes, I am aware of this meaning, after reading the other answer. Thank you, though, for pointing it out.

– virolino
2 days ago


















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