Can I write “You must not sit when your superior is not”?












2














I’m trying to shorten some of the sentences in my work and this sentence came across:



“You must not sit when your superior is standing.”



Is it grammatically correct to substitute with:



“You must not sit when your superior is not” ([Not sitting])?



In both cases the second clauses are in continuous form, so I maintained that. Couldn’t find any examples online, but I’m sure I’ve seen it used somewhere.






word-choice sentence-structure







share|improve this question













migrated from writing.stackexchange.com 5 hours ago


This question came from our site for the craft of professional writing, including fiction, non-fiction, technical, scholarly, and commercial writing.















  • Is 5 characters worth it?
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago










  • @bruglesco Lol. Good point. Let me rephrase, “I’m trying out new forms in my writing.”
    – Simon S
    6 hours ago










  • I personally wouldn't. Not sure if it is grammatically correct or not but it saves no significant space and is harder to understand. The first sentence also sounds less harsh. partly because it is phrased without the negation.
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    If your goal is more elegant writing, it's never a good idea to make the audience do extra work. In this case the extra work is changing the verb form of an elided word. So, regardless of whether the grammar is correct, I would advise against it, even though it is easy to understand and unambiguous. Elegant writing is almost always about reducing the audience's work, not increasing it.
    – Chris Sunami
    6 hours ago










  • You must not sit if your "superior" is not really superior after all??
    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago
















2














I’m trying to shorten some of the sentences in my work and this sentence came across:



“You must not sit when your superior is standing.”



Is it grammatically correct to substitute with:



“You must not sit when your superior is not” ([Not sitting])?



In both cases the second clauses are in continuous form, so I maintained that. Couldn’t find any examples online, but I’m sure I’ve seen it used somewhere.






word-choice sentence-structure







share|improve this question













migrated from writing.stackexchange.com 5 hours ago


This question came from our site for the craft of professional writing, including fiction, non-fiction, technical, scholarly, and commercial writing.















  • Is 5 characters worth it?
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago










  • @bruglesco Lol. Good point. Let me rephrase, “I’m trying out new forms in my writing.”
    – Simon S
    6 hours ago










  • I personally wouldn't. Not sure if it is grammatically correct or not but it saves no significant space and is harder to understand. The first sentence also sounds less harsh. partly because it is phrased without the negation.
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    If your goal is more elegant writing, it's never a good idea to make the audience do extra work. In this case the extra work is changing the verb form of an elided word. So, regardless of whether the grammar is correct, I would advise against it, even though it is easy to understand and unambiguous. Elegant writing is almost always about reducing the audience's work, not increasing it.
    – Chris Sunami
    6 hours ago










  • You must not sit if your "superior" is not really superior after all??
    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago














2












2








2







I’m trying to shorten some of the sentences in my work and this sentence came across:



“You must not sit when your superior is standing.”



Is it grammatically correct to substitute with:



“You must not sit when your superior is not” ([Not sitting])?



In both cases the second clauses are in continuous form, so I maintained that. Couldn’t find any examples online, but I’m sure I’ve seen it used somewhere.






word-choice sentence-structure







share|improve this question













I’m trying to shorten some of the sentences in my work and this sentence came across:



“You must not sit when your superior is standing.”



Is it grammatically correct to substitute with:



“You must not sit when your superior is not” ([Not sitting])?



In both cases the second clauses are in continuous form, so I maintained that. Couldn’t find any examples online, but I’m sure I’ve seen it used somewhere.






word-choice sentence-structure




word-choice sentence-structure






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 6 hours ago









Simon S

524




524




migrated from writing.stackexchange.com 5 hours ago


This question came from our site for the craft of professional writing, including fiction, non-fiction, technical, scholarly, and commercial writing.






migrated from writing.stackexchange.com 5 hours ago


This question came from our site for the craft of professional writing, including fiction, non-fiction, technical, scholarly, and commercial writing.














  • Is 5 characters worth it?
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago










  • @bruglesco Lol. Good point. Let me rephrase, “I’m trying out new forms in my writing.”
    – Simon S
    6 hours ago










  • I personally wouldn't. Not sure if it is grammatically correct or not but it saves no significant space and is harder to understand. The first sentence also sounds less harsh. partly because it is phrased without the negation.
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    If your goal is more elegant writing, it's never a good idea to make the audience do extra work. In this case the extra work is changing the verb form of an elided word. So, regardless of whether the grammar is correct, I would advise against it, even though it is easy to understand and unambiguous. Elegant writing is almost always about reducing the audience's work, not increasing it.
    – Chris Sunami
    6 hours ago










  • You must not sit if your "superior" is not really superior after all??
    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago


















  • Is 5 characters worth it?
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago










  • @bruglesco Lol. Good point. Let me rephrase, “I’m trying out new forms in my writing.”
    – Simon S
    6 hours ago










  • I personally wouldn't. Not sure if it is grammatically correct or not but it saves no significant space and is harder to understand. The first sentence also sounds less harsh. partly because it is phrased without the negation.
    – bruglesco
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    If your goal is more elegant writing, it's never a good idea to make the audience do extra work. In this case the extra work is changing the verb form of an elided word. So, regardless of whether the grammar is correct, I would advise against it, even though it is easy to understand and unambiguous. Elegant writing is almost always about reducing the audience's work, not increasing it.
    – Chris Sunami
    6 hours ago










  • You must not sit if your "superior" is not really superior after all??
    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago
















Is 5 characters worth it?
– bruglesco
6 hours ago




Is 5 characters worth it?
– bruglesco
6 hours ago












@bruglesco Lol. Good point. Let me rephrase, “I’m trying out new forms in my writing.”
– Simon S
6 hours ago




@bruglesco Lol. Good point. Let me rephrase, “I’m trying out new forms in my writing.”
– Simon S
6 hours ago












I personally wouldn't. Not sure if it is grammatically correct or not but it saves no significant space and is harder to understand. The first sentence also sounds less harsh. partly because it is phrased without the negation.
– bruglesco
6 hours ago




I personally wouldn't. Not sure if it is grammatically correct or not but it saves no significant space and is harder to understand. The first sentence also sounds less harsh. partly because it is phrased without the negation.
– bruglesco
6 hours ago




1




1




If your goal is more elegant writing, it's never a good idea to make the audience do extra work. In this case the extra work is changing the verb form of an elided word. So, regardless of whether the grammar is correct, I would advise against it, even though it is easy to understand and unambiguous. Elegant writing is almost always about reducing the audience's work, not increasing it.
– Chris Sunami
6 hours ago




If your goal is more elegant writing, it's never a good idea to make the audience do extra work. In this case the extra work is changing the verb form of an elided word. So, regardless of whether the grammar is correct, I would advise against it, even though it is easy to understand and unambiguous. Elegant writing is almost always about reducing the audience's work, not increasing it.
– Chris Sunami
6 hours ago












You must not sit if your "superior" is not really superior after all??
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago




You must not sit if your "superior" is not really superior after all??
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















2














To add to the answer from @JG, if you are looking for alternative forms within your writing, instead you could use




You must not be sitting when your superior is not







share|improve this answer





























    1














    The grammar answer is: no, you may not, just as you can't say, "You must not enter when you superior is not" (to mean they haven't entered yet). You can't pair "is not" with an imperative verb as if it's its own past participle.



    The authorial answer is: if it's the words of a character for whom such an idiosyncratic speech style would be typical, or even character-defining, it might make sense. Just bear in mind any such effort has to inculcate an attitude in readers you're happy with them having. In this case, that attitude would be, "this person's hard to parse". Only beta readers can tell you whether this makes the character less sympathetic, but maybe it's a character for whom that's not a problem.



    Note: the second paragraph was for the benefit of writers, as at the time of posting this question appeared on writing.se.






    share|improve this answer































      0














      As J.G. says, no you cannot drop the current participle. For a direct comparison to be implied, you need to use the same verb (either "to sit" or "to be sitting") for both subjects, e.g.:



      “You must not sit when your superior does not”



      or



      “You must not be seated when your superior is not”



      Personally, though comes across as quite formal, I would phrase it as:



      “You must not sit while your superior stands”






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.


















      • If you transpose the example @JG used with your first alternative, how can you say "You must not enter when your superior does not" when your superior has already entered some time prior?
        – Chris Rogers
        3 hours ago













      Your Answer








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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2














      To add to the answer from @JG, if you are looking for alternative forms within your writing, instead you could use




      You must not be sitting when your superior is not







      share|improve this answer


























        2














        To add to the answer from @JG, if you are looking for alternative forms within your writing, instead you could use




        You must not be sitting when your superior is not







        share|improve this answer
























          2












          2








          2






          To add to the answer from @JG, if you are looking for alternative forms within your writing, instead you could use




          You must not be sitting when your superior is not







          share|improve this answer












          To add to the answer from @JG, if you are looking for alternative forms within your writing, instead you could use




          You must not be sitting when your superior is not








          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          Chris Rogers

          735210




          735210

























              1














              The grammar answer is: no, you may not, just as you can't say, "You must not enter when you superior is not" (to mean they haven't entered yet). You can't pair "is not" with an imperative verb as if it's its own past participle.



              The authorial answer is: if it's the words of a character for whom such an idiosyncratic speech style would be typical, or even character-defining, it might make sense. Just bear in mind any such effort has to inculcate an attitude in readers you're happy with them having. In this case, that attitude would be, "this person's hard to parse". Only beta readers can tell you whether this makes the character less sympathetic, but maybe it's a character for whom that's not a problem.



              Note: the second paragraph was for the benefit of writers, as at the time of posting this question appeared on writing.se.






              share|improve this answer




























                1














                The grammar answer is: no, you may not, just as you can't say, "You must not enter when you superior is not" (to mean they haven't entered yet). You can't pair "is not" with an imperative verb as if it's its own past participle.



                The authorial answer is: if it's the words of a character for whom such an idiosyncratic speech style would be typical, or even character-defining, it might make sense. Just bear in mind any such effort has to inculcate an attitude in readers you're happy with them having. In this case, that attitude would be, "this person's hard to parse". Only beta readers can tell you whether this makes the character less sympathetic, but maybe it's a character for whom that's not a problem.



                Note: the second paragraph was for the benefit of writers, as at the time of posting this question appeared on writing.se.






                share|improve this answer


























                  1












                  1








                  1






                  The grammar answer is: no, you may not, just as you can't say, "You must not enter when you superior is not" (to mean they haven't entered yet). You can't pair "is not" with an imperative verb as if it's its own past participle.



                  The authorial answer is: if it's the words of a character for whom such an idiosyncratic speech style would be typical, or even character-defining, it might make sense. Just bear in mind any such effort has to inculcate an attitude in readers you're happy with them having. In this case, that attitude would be, "this person's hard to parse". Only beta readers can tell you whether this makes the character less sympathetic, but maybe it's a character for whom that's not a problem.



                  Note: the second paragraph was for the benefit of writers, as at the time of posting this question appeared on writing.se.






                  share|improve this answer














                  The grammar answer is: no, you may not, just as you can't say, "You must not enter when you superior is not" (to mean they haven't entered yet). You can't pair "is not" with an imperative verb as if it's its own past participle.



                  The authorial answer is: if it's the words of a character for whom such an idiosyncratic speech style would be typical, or even character-defining, it might make sense. Just bear in mind any such effort has to inculcate an attitude in readers you're happy with them having. In this case, that attitude would be, "this person's hard to parse". Only beta readers can tell you whether this makes the character less sympathetic, but maybe it's a character for whom that's not a problem.



                  Note: the second paragraph was for the benefit of writers, as at the time of posting this question appeared on writing.se.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 5 hours ago

























                  answered 6 hours ago









                  J.G.

                  2695




                  2695























                      0














                      As J.G. says, no you cannot drop the current participle. For a direct comparison to be implied, you need to use the same verb (either "to sit" or "to be sitting") for both subjects, e.g.:



                      “You must not sit when your superior does not”



                      or



                      “You must not be seated when your superior is not”



                      Personally, though comes across as quite formal, I would phrase it as:



                      “You must not sit while your superior stands”






                      share|improve this answer








                      New contributor




                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                      • If you transpose the example @JG used with your first alternative, how can you say "You must not enter when your superior does not" when your superior has already entered some time prior?
                        – Chris Rogers
                        3 hours ago


















                      0














                      As J.G. says, no you cannot drop the current participle. For a direct comparison to be implied, you need to use the same verb (either "to sit" or "to be sitting") for both subjects, e.g.:



                      “You must not sit when your superior does not”



                      or



                      “You must not be seated when your superior is not”



                      Personally, though comes across as quite formal, I would phrase it as:



                      “You must not sit while your superior stands”






                      share|improve this answer








                      New contributor




                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                      • If you transpose the example @JG used with your first alternative, how can you say "You must not enter when your superior does not" when your superior has already entered some time prior?
                        – Chris Rogers
                        3 hours ago
















                      0












                      0








                      0






                      As J.G. says, no you cannot drop the current participle. For a direct comparison to be implied, you need to use the same verb (either "to sit" or "to be sitting") for both subjects, e.g.:



                      “You must not sit when your superior does not”



                      or



                      “You must not be seated when your superior is not”



                      Personally, though comes across as quite formal, I would phrase it as:



                      “You must not sit while your superior stands”






                      share|improve this answer








                      New contributor




                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.









                      As J.G. says, no you cannot drop the current participle. For a direct comparison to be implied, you need to use the same verb (either "to sit" or "to be sitting") for both subjects, e.g.:



                      “You must not sit when your superior does not”



                      or



                      “You must not be seated when your superior is not”



                      Personally, though comes across as quite formal, I would phrase it as:



                      “You must not sit while your superior stands”







                      share|improve this answer








                      New contributor




                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.









                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer






                      New contributor




                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.









                      answered 4 hours ago









                      David John Smith

                      1091




                      1091




                      New contributor




                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.





                      New contributor





                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.






                      David John Smith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.












                      • If you transpose the example @JG used with your first alternative, how can you say "You must not enter when your superior does not" when your superior has already entered some time prior?
                        – Chris Rogers
                        3 hours ago




















                      • If you transpose the example @JG used with your first alternative, how can you say "You must not enter when your superior does not" when your superior has already entered some time prior?
                        – Chris Rogers
                        3 hours ago


















                      If you transpose the example @JG used with your first alternative, how can you say "You must not enter when your superior does not" when your superior has already entered some time prior?
                      – Chris Rogers
                      3 hours ago






                      If you transpose the example @JG used with your first alternative, how can you say "You must not enter when your superior does not" when your superior has already entered some time prior?
                      – Chris Rogers
                      3 hours ago




















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