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subject to

English translation: subject to

11:50 May 2, 2007
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Science (general) / scientific writing
English term or phrase: subject to
Stress state of flexible plates with a hole subject to bending.

This is the title of a scientific article. I'd like to make sure that the native-speaking reader understands it properly. Is it clear from this sentence that it is the plates, rather than the hole, that are subject to bending?
Nik-On/Off
Ukraine
Local time: 21:20
Selected answer:subject to
Explanation:
It is not very clear as you say.
Perhaps if you say "...flexible plates with a hole that are subject to bending", the plural use of the verb will make it clear that you are referring to the plates.
Selected response from:

David Cahill
Local time: 20:20
Grading comment
Thank you all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +7subject to
David Cahill
3 +2no it isn't
Marie-Hélène Hayles
4state of perforated flexible plates subject to bending
Silvia Brandon-Pérez
3flexible plates with a hole OR plates with a hole that ARE subject to bending
RHELLER


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
subject to


Explanation:
It is not very clear as you say.
Perhaps if you say "...flexible plates with a hole that are subject to bending", the plural use of the verb will make it clear that you are referring to the plates.

David Cahill
Local time: 20:20
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you all!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Adam Burman: Yes, the original reads as if the hole is subject to bending. Your version, David, makes it clear.
1 min
  -> Thanks, Adam
agree  Trudy Peters
29 mins
  -> Thanks, Trudy
agree  Jack Doughty
44 mins
  -> Thanks, Jack
agree  NancyLynn
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Nancy
agree  RHELLER: yes that makes sense - I gave another option as well
5 hrs
  -> thanks, rita
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
6 hrs
  -> thanks, marju
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
6 hrs
  -> thanks, vicky
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
no it isn't


Explanation:
I hope someone else will come up with a more elegant way of putting it, but as it stands the reader will assume the hole is subject to bending.
You could try "Stress state of flexible plates, with hole, subject to bending"
or "... flexible plates with hole and subject to bending".

But they're both ugly.

Marie-Hélène Hayles
Local time: 20:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jim Tucker (X): Yes - I entered this below with just the second comma - I don't think it's inelegant: "Stress state of flexible plates with a hole, subject to bending" - I'll withdraw my answer below
1 hr
agree  humbird: This is good way to rectify the ambiguity in original sentence.
4 hrs
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
state of perforated flexible plates subject to bending


Explanation:
Grammatically the title is wrong, so of course people are going to think the hole is subject to bending, even if that makes no sense. I wonder if you could change the title to show the hole as a condition of the plates, as in perforated flexible plates... or flexible plates subject to bending and with a hole?

Silvia Brandon-Pérez
United States
Local time: 11:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
Notes to answerer
Asker: I'm thinking over "bent flexible plates...". "Perforated" does not work because the plates have just one hole


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Trudy Peters: perforated would imply more than one hole
9 mins
  -> I realize that, that is why I added, and with a hole... I wanted to convey the idea of modifying plates in some way. Thank you!
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
flexible plates with a hole OR plates with a hole that ARE subject to bending


Explanation:
hope that helps

Torsionally flexible couplingsFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
In contrast to other flexible couplings, the intermediate members of which are. subject to bending stress and are therefore prone to earlier wear, ...
www.ktrcorp.com/katalog/EN/KTR_018.pdf


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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-05-02 17:01:15 GMT)
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I think it is redundant to say flexible and "subject to bending"

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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-05-02 17:24:56 GMT)
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http://www.steelconstruction.org/static/assets/source/SDG 59...
see section 4
"effective section properties are given for sections (I add here for your purposes, with a hole) subject to compression, bending and also to combined axial compression and bending"

RHELLER
United States
Local time: 12:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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