A few days ago
inquisitive thinker

Do I use the word “used” correctly in this sentence?

—————

We think the client in the project that we’ve been handling cannot be *used* as a respondent for this survey because the respondent that should be targeted is the highly poor ones while the client in our project is generally an established SME that cannot be categorized as “very poor”. We are not sure that the use of this tool will help us to get a description about poverty at micro enterprise level.

Top 9 Answers
A few days ago
Anonymous

Favorite Answer

I dont know if its grammatically incorrect, but it sure is awkward. How about *included* or *tapped*?

Other errors (i.e. unsolicited advice):

1) Change *we’ve* to *we have*. Otherwise, change *cannot* to *can’t*, *we are* to *we’re* and so on. Consistency is very important, especially considering you are only writing one paragraph.

2) “…because the respondent that should be targeted is the highly poor ones…” First you are using singular than plural and you used *is* to describe *highly poor ones*. Try: “the respondentS that should be targeted ARE the highly poor ones”

3) What do you mean your client is “generally an established SME”? It’s either established or not established.

Sorry to be seem like a know-it-all. Just want to help a brother in need.

0

A few days ago
Maverick
Firstly, while the use of the word “use” in your sentence is not offensive while reading, you can still use the term “interviewed” instead of “use” particularly for this phrase.

Frankly speaking, there are a few more errors in the paragraph; check below:

‘We think the client, (comma) in the project that we’ve been handling, (comma) cannot be *used/interviewed* as a respondent for this survey, because/since/as the respondent(s) that should be targeted ‘are’ the highly/extremely poor ones, (comma) while the client in our project is generally an established SME, (comma) ‘who’ cannot be categorized as ‘highly/extremely’ poor. We are not sure that the use/application of this tool will help us get a ‘description (is that the correct word?)’ about poverty at ‘a’ micro enterprise level.’

I hope this helps.

Ciao.

0

5 years ago
?
The word is placed awkwardly in the sentence, and actually doesn’t make much sense used with “I don’t plan”. One would usually be “hopeful” about something one can’t control, i.e. Hopefully he won’t wait until the last minute to submit the assignment. I will, hopefully, get a response from them before I start my vacation.
0

A few days ago
Mickie K
Take used and as, out of the sentence.;

‘ Cannot be a respondent’ is better english.

1

A few days ago
Surely Funke
I would avoid the word “used” for people. Try “selected” or “included,” to avoid the appearance of treating people as objects.
0

A few days ago
x10
Yes.
1

A few days ago
japan_as_world
Yes, but I would replace it with “considered.”
0

A few days ago
intelligent fool
hi,

Mikie is right….it should be “cannot be a respondent” ….the word ‘used’ is unecessary….and this way it sound better.

ALL THE BEST !!!!

0

A few days ago
Bethany
Yes, you’re perfectly correct.
0