ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: jono88 on April 14, 2013, 02:13:33 pm

Title: Lend credence to or give credence to?
Post by: jono88 on April 14, 2013, 02:13:33 pm

So I'm writing a language analysis and i was wondering how to use credence to. Is it lend or give, or is either fine?

Title: Re: Lend credence to or give credence to?
Post by: deleted on April 14, 2013, 03:15:44 pm

They're both interchangeable but lent is more formal.

So I'd use lent.

Title: Re: Lend credence to or give credence to?
Post by: brenden on April 14, 2013, 06:24:12 pm

Either is correct. I can't see a reason why one of lends/gives would be better than the other.
I also wouldn't use lent or anything in past tense. Keep it in present tense "lends, gives, conveys" and never" they conveyed" etc.

Title: Re: Lend credence to or give credence to?
Post by: alondouek on April 14, 2013, 06:32:39 pm

"Lends credence to" is the more proper phrasing, and it can give a sentence a much better euphony that "gives credence to". However, as Brenden stated, this particular phrase only works in the present tense; otherwise it becomes unwieldy.

Furthermore, when writing in an analytical style, the present tense is the way to go. Phrases such as "[the author] lends credence to [the idea]" and "[the author] demonstrates that [etc]" is far better usage of the flow of language. Personally, I would only use past tense for historical context (in a text response essay) or a narrative-style piece (for context).