Conjunction Oddness
This sign is posted at Yaquina Head Park, at the access to one of the intertidal zones - tidal pools you can explore. I believe the sign designer (text here for those who can't read the sign) was led astray by "parallel structure". Those neat columns, with a "but don't" between the two injunctions - do this but don't do that - look neat, but read that last sentence.
Be Careful ... but don't ... ignore the sea -- it's dangerous!It seems to me that "don't ignore the sea" isn't in contrast to "be careful" the way that "but don't pick them" is to "look at the plants" - compare, for example, "be careful but don't be afraid to get your feet wet".
I believe that "and don't" would be far better here. Otherwise, one is led to believe that turning one's back on the sea isn't part of a general "being careful" which is (especially on the Oregon coast) emphatically not so.
When You Explore the Intertidal Zone - | ||
---|---|---|
Look at the animals and plants and touch them gently ... | ...but don't... | ... pick them up, or pull or pry them off |
Collect and take home driftwood ... | ...but don't... | ... collect or take home anything else |
Watch seals and sea.s and seabirds ... | ...but don't... | ... get close or harass them |
Be Careful ... | ...but don't... | ... ignore the sea -- it's dangerous! |
Labels: language
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