Is “spaced by 1 meter†correct English?
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Suppose that the distance between A and B is 1m, is it correct and natural to say
A and B are spaced by 1 meter
word-usage prepositions
edited Aug 16 at 7:24
J.R.♦
94k7120234
asked Aug 16 at 6:42
Naetmul
1805
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up vote
14
down vote
favorite
Suppose that the distance between A and B is 1m, is it correct and natural to say
A and B are spaced by 1 meter
word-usage prepositions
edited Aug 16 at 7:24
J.R.♦
94k7120234
asked Aug 16 at 6:42
Naetmul
1805
add a comment |Â
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
Suppose that the distance between A and B is 1m, is it correct and natural to say
A and B are spaced by 1 meter
word-usage prepositions
edited Aug 16 at 7:24
J.R.♦
94k7120234
asked Aug 16 at 6:42
Naetmul
1805
Suppose that the distance between A and B is 1m, is it correct and natural to say
A and B are spaced by 1 meter
word-usage prepositions
edited Aug 16 at 7:24
J.R.♦
94k7120234
asked Aug 16 at 6:42
Naetmul
1805
edited Aug 16 at 7:24
J.R.♦
94k7120234
edited Aug 16 at 7:24
J.R.♦
94k7120234
edited Aug 16 at 7:24
J.R.♦
94k7120234
94k7120234
asked Aug 16 at 6:42
Naetmul
1805
asked Aug 16 at 6:42
Naetmul
1805
asked Aug 16 at 6:42
Naetmul
1805
1805
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
As pointed out by @J.R it seems that spaced by is a correct expression.
Here is another variant:
According to Oxford Dictionary, you can use the particle apart instead of by.
space VERB
Position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.
the poles are spaced 3m apart
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
2
Yep, "spaced [x] meters apart" definitely sounds more natural to me (in US English, at least... or northeast US English, anyway).
– V2Blast
Aug 16 at 22:37
Just advice make sure they understand compeltely. For example spaced end to end or start to start? For example this could happen: youtube.com/watch?v=Ef93WmlEho0
– Codingale
Aug 17 at 1:02
add a comment |Â
up vote
15
down vote
Using spaced by x where x refers to some quantity is actually fairly common in scientific literature.
Some examples:
The black vertical lines are guides to the eye and they are spaced by 0.7 ps.
Each aperture is a few metres across and they are spaced by a few tens of metres.
On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm.
Absorption does not accumulate between the spectral holes because
they are spaced by only a few times the minimum observed
spectral-hole width.
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
7
My feeling is that "spaced by" works better for multiple objects all at the same spacing, as in your first two examples. It doesn't quite feel right for only two objects. Not sure why...
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 11:00
@AndyT - I agree that it has a slightly awkward feel, although I think it can work in technical contexts.
– J.R.♦
Aug 16 at 11:28
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
It's understandable, but doesn't feel quite right. I would prefer either
A and B are spaced apart by 1 meter
or
A and B are spaced 1 meter apart
However, assuming that you are measuring in SI units and not using the size of your gas or electric meter as a unit of length, then the word is METRE.
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
10
Metre vs meter is British English vs American English.
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 10:58
7
I don't see any evidence that metre is the "international standard" and "meter" is some kind of aberration. Meter simply happens to be the US spelling, just like theater/re, fiber/re, centre/re, etc.
– stangdon
Aug 16 at 11:38
@stangdon Meter is the German spelling, which American and Phillipines English borrowed. The original spelling in French is what got borrowed by every other English dialect.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Aug 16 at 13:55
@stangdon "Metre" is the BIPM spelling (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - which is the closest to international agreement we'll get on these things (USA is a signatory to the Metre Convention that formed the BIPM). Not that it means "Meter" is incorrect, it is obviously fine in AmE contexts.
– Bilkokuya
Aug 17 at 10:56
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up vote
0
down vote
It's bad English in the sense that it is confusing and creates ambiguity. Although I can't give you the exact grammatic rules for prepositions (i.e. by), it 'feels' as though there is a word missing from your sentence, hence the ambiguity.
One would normally say:
- A and B are spaced 1 meter apart (singular case),
- NN are spaced by 1 meter intervals, (generally a plural context)
- or by/at/in equally spaced gaps, etc.
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
And an afterthought …. all of @JR's examples using 'spaced by' suggest a plural context, whereas Naetmul's question referred to a single instance.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 9:40
What do you mean with "a plural context"? Notice that OP mentioned two items and this phrase taken from J.R's answer refers to two items too: "On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm."
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 10:22
RubioRic, first, scientific journals are noted for quality of science, not quality of English!! In those examples, most numbers can (ambiguously!) be read as multiple spaces. However that specific case is not even grammatical, so is an invalid example even though understandable! - It should say 'There ARE two semi-circular electrodes OF radius 1mm on the front surface (of what?), which are spaced 100 microns apart (rather than spaced by!). Incidentally, Scientific journals and Instruction manuals are clearer when written in present tense, instead of opaque continuous tenses often adopted.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 11:28
2
Notice that OP has not stated any context. Maybe he/she is writing a paper. Scientific texts may use non-conversational English but that does not imply a poor quality [Note: I've not downvoted you]
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 11:34
2
How is there ambiguity? I can only think of one way of interpreting the sentence.
– CJ Dennis
Aug 17 at 3:36
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up vote
0
down vote
These variants all sound "natural":
A and B:
- are spaced by 1 meter
- are 1 meter apart
- are set 1 meter apart
- are separated by 1 meter
- have a 1 meter separation
- have a 1 meter offset
- are offset by 1 meter
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
As pointed out by @J.R it seems that spaced by is a correct expression.
Here is another variant:
According to Oxford Dictionary, you can use the particle apart instead of by.
space VERB
Position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.
the poles are spaced 3m apart
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
2
Yep, "spaced [x] meters apart" definitely sounds more natural to me (in US English, at least... or northeast US English, anyway).
– V2Blast
Aug 16 at 22:37
Just advice make sure they understand compeltely. For example spaced end to end or start to start? For example this could happen: youtube.com/watch?v=Ef93WmlEho0
– Codingale
Aug 17 at 1:02
add a comment |Â
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
As pointed out by @J.R it seems that spaced by is a correct expression.
Here is another variant:
According to Oxford Dictionary, you can use the particle apart instead of by.
space VERB
Position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.
the poles are spaced 3m apart
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
2
Yep, "spaced [x] meters apart" definitely sounds more natural to me (in US English, at least... or northeast US English, anyway).
– V2Blast
Aug 16 at 22:37
Just advice make sure they understand compeltely. For example spaced end to end or start to start? For example this could happen: youtube.com/watch?v=Ef93WmlEho0
– Codingale
Aug 17 at 1:02
add a comment |Â
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
As pointed out by @J.R it seems that spaced by is a correct expression.
Here is another variant:
According to Oxford Dictionary, you can use the particle apart instead of by.
space VERB
Position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.
the poles are spaced 3m apart
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
As pointed out by @J.R it seems that spaced by is a correct expression.
Here is another variant:
According to Oxford Dictionary, you can use the particle apart instead of by.
space VERB
Position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.
the poles are spaced 3m apart
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
edited Aug 17 at 17:01
L. Moneta
2,29421031
2,29421031
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
answered Aug 16 at 6:51
RubioRic
2,8421823
2,8421823
2
Yep, "spaced [x] meters apart" definitely sounds more natural to me (in US English, at least... or northeast US English, anyway).
– V2Blast
Aug 16 at 22:37
Just advice make sure they understand compeltely. For example spaced end to end or start to start? For example this could happen: youtube.com/watch?v=Ef93WmlEho0
– Codingale
Aug 17 at 1:02
add a comment |Â
2
Yep, "spaced [x] meters apart" definitely sounds more natural to me (in US English, at least... or northeast US English, anyway).
– V2Blast
Aug 16 at 22:37
Just advice make sure they understand compeltely. For example spaced end to end or start to start? For example this could happen: youtube.com/watch?v=Ef93WmlEho0
– Codingale
Aug 17 at 1:02
2
2
Yep, "spaced [x] meters apart" definitely sounds more natural to me (in US English, at least... or northeast US English, anyway).
– V2Blast
Aug 16 at 22:37
Yep, "spaced [x] meters apart" definitely sounds more natural to me (in US English, at least... or northeast US English, anyway).
– V2Blast
Aug 16 at 22:37
Just advice make sure they understand compeltely. For example spaced end to end or start to start? For example this could happen: youtube.com/watch?v=Ef93WmlEho0
– Codingale
Aug 17 at 1:02
Just advice make sure they understand compeltely. For example spaced end to end or start to start? For example this could happen: youtube.com/watch?v=Ef93WmlEho0
– Codingale
Aug 17 at 1:02
add a comment |Â
up vote
15
down vote
Using spaced by x where x refers to some quantity is actually fairly common in scientific literature.
Some examples:
The black vertical lines are guides to the eye and they are spaced by 0.7 ps.
Each aperture is a few metres across and they are spaced by a few tens of metres.
On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm.
Absorption does not accumulate between the spectral holes because
they are spaced by only a few times the minimum observed
spectral-hole width.
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
7
My feeling is that "spaced by" works better for multiple objects all at the same spacing, as in your first two examples. It doesn't quite feel right for only two objects. Not sure why...
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 11:00
@AndyT - I agree that it has a slightly awkward feel, although I think it can work in technical contexts.
– J.R.♦
Aug 16 at 11:28
add a comment |Â
up vote
15
down vote
Using spaced by x where x refers to some quantity is actually fairly common in scientific literature.
Some examples:
The black vertical lines are guides to the eye and they are spaced by 0.7 ps.
Each aperture is a few metres across and they are spaced by a few tens of metres.
On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm.
Absorption does not accumulate between the spectral holes because
they are spaced by only a few times the minimum observed
spectral-hole width.
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
7
My feeling is that "spaced by" works better for multiple objects all at the same spacing, as in your first two examples. It doesn't quite feel right for only two objects. Not sure why...
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 11:00
@AndyT - I agree that it has a slightly awkward feel, although I think it can work in technical contexts.
– J.R.♦
Aug 16 at 11:28
add a comment |Â
up vote
15
down vote
up vote
15
down vote
Using spaced by x where x refers to some quantity is actually fairly common in scientific literature.
Some examples:
The black vertical lines are guides to the eye and they are spaced by 0.7 ps.
Each aperture is a few metres across and they are spaced by a few tens of metres.
On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm.
Absorption does not accumulate between the spectral holes because
they are spaced by only a few times the minimum observed
spectral-hole width.
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
Using spaced by x where x refers to some quantity is actually fairly common in scientific literature.
Some examples:
The black vertical lines are guides to the eye and they are spaced by 0.7 ps.
Each aperture is a few metres across and they are spaced by a few tens of metres.
On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm.
Absorption does not accumulate between the spectral holes because
they are spaced by only a few times the minimum observed
spectral-hole width.
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
answered Aug 16 at 7:37
J.R.♦
94k7120234
94k7120234
7
My feeling is that "spaced by" works better for multiple objects all at the same spacing, as in your first two examples. It doesn't quite feel right for only two objects. Not sure why...
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 11:00
@AndyT - I agree that it has a slightly awkward feel, although I think it can work in technical contexts.
– J.R.♦
Aug 16 at 11:28
add a comment |Â
7
My feeling is that "spaced by" works better for multiple objects all at the same spacing, as in your first two examples. It doesn't quite feel right for only two objects. Not sure why...
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 11:00
@AndyT - I agree that it has a slightly awkward feel, although I think it can work in technical contexts.
– J.R.♦
Aug 16 at 11:28
7
7
My feeling is that "spaced by" works better for multiple objects all at the same spacing, as in your first two examples. It doesn't quite feel right for only two objects. Not sure why...
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 11:00
My feeling is that "spaced by" works better for multiple objects all at the same spacing, as in your first two examples. It doesn't quite feel right for only two objects. Not sure why...
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 11:00
@AndyT - I agree that it has a slightly awkward feel, although I think it can work in technical contexts.
– J.R.♦
Aug 16 at 11:28
@AndyT - I agree that it has a slightly awkward feel, although I think it can work in technical contexts.
– J.R.♦
Aug 16 at 11:28
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
It's understandable, but doesn't feel quite right. I would prefer either
A and B are spaced apart by 1 meter
or
A and B are spaced 1 meter apart
However, assuming that you are measuring in SI units and not using the size of your gas or electric meter as a unit of length, then the word is METRE.
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
10
Metre vs meter is British English vs American English.
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 10:58
7
I don't see any evidence that metre is the "international standard" and "meter" is some kind of aberration. Meter simply happens to be the US spelling, just like theater/re, fiber/re, centre/re, etc.
– stangdon
Aug 16 at 11:38
@stangdon Meter is the German spelling, which American and Phillipines English borrowed. The original spelling in French is what got borrowed by every other English dialect.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Aug 16 at 13:55
@stangdon "Metre" is the BIPM spelling (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - which is the closest to international agreement we'll get on these things (USA is a signatory to the Metre Convention that formed the BIPM). Not that it means "Meter" is incorrect, it is obviously fine in AmE contexts.
– Bilkokuya
Aug 17 at 10:56
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
It's understandable, but doesn't feel quite right. I would prefer either
A and B are spaced apart by 1 meter
or
A and B are spaced 1 meter apart
However, assuming that you are measuring in SI units and not using the size of your gas or electric meter as a unit of length, then the word is METRE.
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
10
Metre vs meter is British English vs American English.
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 10:58
7
I don't see any evidence that metre is the "international standard" and "meter" is some kind of aberration. Meter simply happens to be the US spelling, just like theater/re, fiber/re, centre/re, etc.
– stangdon
Aug 16 at 11:38
@stangdon Meter is the German spelling, which American and Phillipines English borrowed. The original spelling in French is what got borrowed by every other English dialect.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Aug 16 at 13:55
@stangdon "Metre" is the BIPM spelling (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - which is the closest to international agreement we'll get on these things (USA is a signatory to the Metre Convention that formed the BIPM). Not that it means "Meter" is incorrect, it is obviously fine in AmE contexts.
– Bilkokuya
Aug 17 at 10:56
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
up vote
7
down vote
It's understandable, but doesn't feel quite right. I would prefer either
A and B are spaced apart by 1 meter
or
A and B are spaced 1 meter apart
However, assuming that you are measuring in SI units and not using the size of your gas or electric meter as a unit of length, then the word is METRE.
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
It's understandable, but doesn't feel quite right. I would prefer either
A and B are spaced apart by 1 meter
or
A and B are spaced 1 meter apart
However, assuming that you are measuring in SI units and not using the size of your gas or electric meter as a unit of length, then the word is METRE.
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
answered Aug 16 at 10:37
Paul
711
711
10
Metre vs meter is British English vs American English.
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 10:58
7
I don't see any evidence that metre is the "international standard" and "meter" is some kind of aberration. Meter simply happens to be the US spelling, just like theater/re, fiber/re, centre/re, etc.
– stangdon
Aug 16 at 11:38
@stangdon Meter is the German spelling, which American and Phillipines English borrowed. The original spelling in French is what got borrowed by every other English dialect.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Aug 16 at 13:55
@stangdon "Metre" is the BIPM spelling (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - which is the closest to international agreement we'll get on these things (USA is a signatory to the Metre Convention that formed the BIPM). Not that it means "Meter" is incorrect, it is obviously fine in AmE contexts.
– Bilkokuya
Aug 17 at 10:56
add a comment |Â
10
Metre vs meter is British English vs American English.
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 10:58
7
I don't see any evidence that metre is the "international standard" and "meter" is some kind of aberration. Meter simply happens to be the US spelling, just like theater/re, fiber/re, centre/re, etc.
– stangdon
Aug 16 at 11:38
@stangdon Meter is the German spelling, which American and Phillipines English borrowed. The original spelling in French is what got borrowed by every other English dialect.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Aug 16 at 13:55
@stangdon "Metre" is the BIPM spelling (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - which is the closest to international agreement we'll get on these things (USA is a signatory to the Metre Convention that formed the BIPM). Not that it means "Meter" is incorrect, it is obviously fine in AmE contexts.
– Bilkokuya
Aug 17 at 10:56
10
10
Metre vs meter is British English vs American English.
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 10:58
Metre vs meter is British English vs American English.
– AndyT
Aug 16 at 10:58
7
7
I don't see any evidence that metre is the "international standard" and "meter" is some kind of aberration. Meter simply happens to be the US spelling, just like theater/re, fiber/re, centre/re, etc.
– stangdon
Aug 16 at 11:38
I don't see any evidence that metre is the "international standard" and "meter" is some kind of aberration. Meter simply happens to be the US spelling, just like theater/re, fiber/re, centre/re, etc.
– stangdon
Aug 16 at 11:38
@stangdon Meter is the German spelling, which American and Phillipines English borrowed. The original spelling in French is what got borrowed by every other English dialect.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Aug 16 at 13:55
@stangdon Meter is the German spelling, which American and Phillipines English borrowed. The original spelling in French is what got borrowed by every other English dialect.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Aug 16 at 13:55
@stangdon "Metre" is the BIPM spelling (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - which is the closest to international agreement we'll get on these things (USA is a signatory to the Metre Convention that formed the BIPM). Not that it means "Meter" is incorrect, it is obviously fine in AmE contexts.
– Bilkokuya
Aug 17 at 10:56
@stangdon "Metre" is the BIPM spelling (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - which is the closest to international agreement we'll get on these things (USA is a signatory to the Metre Convention that formed the BIPM). Not that it means "Meter" is incorrect, it is obviously fine in AmE contexts.
– Bilkokuya
Aug 17 at 10:56
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
It's bad English in the sense that it is confusing and creates ambiguity. Although I can't give you the exact grammatic rules for prepositions (i.e. by), it 'feels' as though there is a word missing from your sentence, hence the ambiguity.
One would normally say:
- A and B are spaced 1 meter apart (singular case),
- NN are spaced by 1 meter intervals, (generally a plural context)
- or by/at/in equally spaced gaps, etc.
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
And an afterthought …. all of @JR's examples using 'spaced by' suggest a plural context, whereas Naetmul's question referred to a single instance.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 9:40
What do you mean with "a plural context"? Notice that OP mentioned two items and this phrase taken from J.R's answer refers to two items too: "On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm."
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 10:22
RubioRic, first, scientific journals are noted for quality of science, not quality of English!! In those examples, most numbers can (ambiguously!) be read as multiple spaces. However that specific case is not even grammatical, so is an invalid example even though understandable! - It should say 'There ARE two semi-circular electrodes OF radius 1mm on the front surface (of what?), which are spaced 100 microns apart (rather than spaced by!). Incidentally, Scientific journals and Instruction manuals are clearer when written in present tense, instead of opaque continuous tenses often adopted.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 11:28
2
Notice that OP has not stated any context. Maybe he/she is writing a paper. Scientific texts may use non-conversational English but that does not imply a poor quality [Note: I've not downvoted you]
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 11:34
2
How is there ambiguity? I can only think of one way of interpreting the sentence.
– CJ Dennis
Aug 17 at 3:36
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
It's bad English in the sense that it is confusing and creates ambiguity. Although I can't give you the exact grammatic rules for prepositions (i.e. by), it 'feels' as though there is a word missing from your sentence, hence the ambiguity.
One would normally say:
- A and B are spaced 1 meter apart (singular case),
- NN are spaced by 1 meter intervals, (generally a plural context)
- or by/at/in equally spaced gaps, etc.
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
And an afterthought …. all of @JR's examples using 'spaced by' suggest a plural context, whereas Naetmul's question referred to a single instance.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 9:40
What do you mean with "a plural context"? Notice that OP mentioned two items and this phrase taken from J.R's answer refers to two items too: "On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm."
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 10:22
RubioRic, first, scientific journals are noted for quality of science, not quality of English!! In those examples, most numbers can (ambiguously!) be read as multiple spaces. However that specific case is not even grammatical, so is an invalid example even though understandable! - It should say 'There ARE two semi-circular electrodes OF radius 1mm on the front surface (of what?), which are spaced 100 microns apart (rather than spaced by!). Incidentally, Scientific journals and Instruction manuals are clearer when written in present tense, instead of opaque continuous tenses often adopted.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 11:28
2
Notice that OP has not stated any context. Maybe he/she is writing a paper. Scientific texts may use non-conversational English but that does not imply a poor quality [Note: I've not downvoted you]
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 11:34
2
How is there ambiguity? I can only think of one way of interpreting the sentence.
– CJ Dennis
Aug 17 at 3:36
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
It's bad English in the sense that it is confusing and creates ambiguity. Although I can't give you the exact grammatic rules for prepositions (i.e. by), it 'feels' as though there is a word missing from your sentence, hence the ambiguity.
One would normally say:
- A and B are spaced 1 meter apart (singular case),
- NN are spaced by 1 meter intervals, (generally a plural context)
- or by/at/in equally spaced gaps, etc.
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
It's bad English in the sense that it is confusing and creates ambiguity. Although I can't give you the exact grammatic rules for prepositions (i.e. by), it 'feels' as though there is a word missing from your sentence, hence the ambiguity.
One would normally say:
- A and B are spaced 1 meter apart (singular case),
- NN are spaced by 1 meter intervals, (generally a plural context)
- or by/at/in equally spaced gaps, etc.
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Native English speaker
691
691
And an afterthought …. all of @JR's examples using 'spaced by' suggest a plural context, whereas Naetmul's question referred to a single instance.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 9:40
What do you mean with "a plural context"? Notice that OP mentioned two items and this phrase taken from J.R's answer refers to two items too: "On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm."
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 10:22
RubioRic, first, scientific journals are noted for quality of science, not quality of English!! In those examples, most numbers can (ambiguously!) be read as multiple spaces. However that specific case is not even grammatical, so is an invalid example even though understandable! - It should say 'There ARE two semi-circular electrodes OF radius 1mm on the front surface (of what?), which are spaced 100 microns apart (rather than spaced by!). Incidentally, Scientific journals and Instruction manuals are clearer when written in present tense, instead of opaque continuous tenses often adopted.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 11:28
2
Notice that OP has not stated any context. Maybe he/she is writing a paper. Scientific texts may use non-conversational English but that does not imply a poor quality [Note: I've not downvoted you]
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 11:34
2
How is there ambiguity? I can only think of one way of interpreting the sentence.
– CJ Dennis
Aug 17 at 3:36
add a comment |Â
And an afterthought …. all of @JR's examples using 'spaced by' suggest a plural context, whereas Naetmul's question referred to a single instance.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 9:40
What do you mean with "a plural context"? Notice that OP mentioned two items and this phrase taken from J.R's answer refers to two items too: "On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm."
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 10:22
RubioRic, first, scientific journals are noted for quality of science, not quality of English!! In those examples, most numbers can (ambiguously!) be read as multiple spaces. However that specific case is not even grammatical, so is an invalid example even though understandable! - It should say 'There ARE two semi-circular electrodes OF radius 1mm on the front surface (of what?), which are spaced 100 microns apart (rather than spaced by!). Incidentally, Scientific journals and Instruction manuals are clearer when written in present tense, instead of opaque continuous tenses often adopted.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 11:28
2
Notice that OP has not stated any context. Maybe he/she is writing a paper. Scientific texts may use non-conversational English but that does not imply a poor quality [Note: I've not downvoted you]
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 11:34
2
How is there ambiguity? I can only think of one way of interpreting the sentence.
– CJ Dennis
Aug 17 at 3:36
And an afterthought …. all of @JR's examples using 'spaced by' suggest a plural context, whereas Naetmul's question referred to a single instance.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 9:40
And an afterthought …. all of @JR's examples using 'spaced by' suggest a plural context, whereas Naetmul's question referred to a single instance.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 9:40
What do you mean with "a plural context"? Notice that OP mentioned two items and this phrase taken from J.R's answer refers to two items too: "On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm."
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 10:22
What do you mean with "a plural context"? Notice that OP mentioned two items and this phrase taken from J.R's answer refers to two items too: "On the front surface two semicircular electrodes with a radius of 1 mm are spaced by 100 μm."
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 10:22
RubioRic, first, scientific journals are noted for quality of science, not quality of English!! In those examples, most numbers can (ambiguously!) be read as multiple spaces. However that specific case is not even grammatical, so is an invalid example even though understandable! - It should say 'There ARE two semi-circular electrodes OF radius 1mm on the front surface (of what?), which are spaced 100 microns apart (rather than spaced by!). Incidentally, Scientific journals and Instruction manuals are clearer when written in present tense, instead of opaque continuous tenses often adopted.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 11:28
RubioRic, first, scientific journals are noted for quality of science, not quality of English!! In those examples, most numbers can (ambiguously!) be read as multiple spaces. However that specific case is not even grammatical, so is an invalid example even though understandable! - It should say 'There ARE two semi-circular electrodes OF radius 1mm on the front surface (of what?), which are spaced 100 microns apart (rather than spaced by!). Incidentally, Scientific journals and Instruction manuals are clearer when written in present tense, instead of opaque continuous tenses often adopted.
– Native English speaker
Aug 16 at 11:28
2
2
Notice that OP has not stated any context. Maybe he/she is writing a paper. Scientific texts may use non-conversational English but that does not imply a poor quality [Note: I've not downvoted you]
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 11:34
Notice that OP has not stated any context. Maybe he/she is writing a paper. Scientific texts may use non-conversational English but that does not imply a poor quality [Note: I've not downvoted you]
– RubioRic
Aug 16 at 11:34
2
2
How is there ambiguity? I can only think of one way of interpreting the sentence.
– CJ Dennis
Aug 17 at 3:36
How is there ambiguity? I can only think of one way of interpreting the sentence.
– CJ Dennis
Aug 17 at 3:36
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
These variants all sound "natural":
A and B:
- are spaced by 1 meter
- are 1 meter apart
- are set 1 meter apart
- are separated by 1 meter
- have a 1 meter separation
- have a 1 meter offset
- are offset by 1 meter
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
These variants all sound "natural":
A and B:
- are spaced by 1 meter
- are 1 meter apart
- are set 1 meter apart
- are separated by 1 meter
- have a 1 meter separation
- have a 1 meter offset
- are offset by 1 meter
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
These variants all sound "natural":
A and B:
- are spaced by 1 meter
- are 1 meter apart
- are set 1 meter apart
- are separated by 1 meter
- have a 1 meter separation
- have a 1 meter offset
- are offset by 1 meter
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
These variants all sound "natural":
A and B:
- are spaced by 1 meter
- are 1 meter apart
- are set 1 meter apart
- are separated by 1 meter
- have a 1 meter separation
- have a 1 meter offset
- are offset by 1 meter
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
answered Aug 16 at 14:43
Bohemian
1306
1306
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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