Thread: Double of in a sentence

I want to ask are double 'of's in a single sentence allowable or they should be avoided at all costs?

Would it be considered as a mistake or just as a bad style? Or is it not so bad?

Need an example, but my gut feeling would be to avoid it.

Of course they are one of a kind.

Ok. I'll try to explain. Russian language, thanks to cases system, is abundant with constructions consisting of multiple nouns, i.e. the phrase повышение качества распределения товаров для стимуляции спроса actually means something in Russian but straighforward approach to translation will result in a row of 'of's. Experienced translator juggles the words sometimes changing the noun into adjective or something else, but sometimes it's a very difficult task.
My question was about whether the two prepositions (of) can be tolerated or must be avoided at all costs?

I.e. the example I used literally translates as 'Heightening of quality of distribution of goods'

Those, who are familiar with Russian can see what I mean by this fragment:

Согласно данным химического анализа в вариантах с цеолитом основное количество нефтепродуктов разрушается в течение первых 10 суток, а степень деструкции в некоторых случаях достигала 50 и более процентов от первоначального уровня загрязнения. Кроме того, применение цеолита обеспечивало более быстрое снижение уровня токсичности, который на начальных этапах деструкции нефтепродуктов часто бывает даже выше, чем до рекультивации. Результаты анализа почвенных проб после применения технологии биоремедиации с использованием цеолитов, проведенного специализированной токсикологической лабораторией «Витахим» (г. Москва), свидетельствуют о полной экологической безопасности очищенной почвы (таблица 2).

Originally Posted by Ramil

My question was about whether the two prepositions (of) can be tolerated or must be avoided at all costs?

In good prose, it is better avoided. In technical/special/legal documents, however, "of" is often used twice in the same sentence, and I am talking about docs written by native English speakers, since I have seen and translated quite a few of them. In general, writers and readers of technical docs have lower language standards than, say, writers and readers of fiction, and this is true for all languages.

As to your example, it could probably be translated as "Improving goods/merchandise distribution"

'Heightening of quality of distribution of goods'

Если ты хочешь использовать именно эти слова, как насчет "Нeightening goods distribution quality"?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

'Heightening of quality of distribution of goods'

Если ты хочешь использовать именно эти слова, как насчет "Нeightening goods distribution quality"?

This was for example purposes only. I usualy find the way to translate constructions like that. My question was more general - is it allowable to use double 'of's in a single sentence?

Besides, if you like the game here's more tough a challenge:

Исследование эффективности влияния различных фракций цеолита на ускорение скорости разложения микроорганизмами нефтяных углеводородов в почве показало, что ...



I need a drink.

Originally Posted by Ramil

I need a drink.

Случай такой, что без ста грамм не разобраться?

Originally Posted by Zaya

Originally Posted by Ramil

I need a drink.

Случай такой, что без ста грамм не разобраться?

Да уже такой, что можно и по вене вмазаться

Шучу конечно, но жуть.

Technically, as long as they aren't sequential there's no problem from the point of view of grammar.

But but but,

I could still look ugly, stylistically.

In spoken English that kind of thing happens ALL the time. I don't think there's really any problem having two "ofs" close together in a sentence. Just don't go too crazy. In general style terms, you don't want too many similar structures together.

A study of how efficiently various fractions of zeolite affect the speed at which microorganisms of petroleum hydrocarbons disperse in soil showed that ...

я не химик! But, yes, avoid too many "ofs" without going so far as to string together nonsense stuff like petroleum hydrocarbon microorganisms, which makes you sound like a mad German scientist (doesn't it, Olya?)

I think you find "of" used twice most often in titles. Here are some examples that are all OK:

The most recent film version of Of Mice and Men (1992) was directed by Gary Sinise http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Mice_and_Men

A Little Bit of "This," a Little Bit of "That" http://www.llrx.com/columns/grammar3.htm

Overview of Sources of Canadian Law on the Web http://www.llrx.com/features/canadian4.htm

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System http://www.federalreserve.gov/

Revocation of Power of Attorney www.realatrends.com/documents/Revocatio ... torney.doc

Method of estimation of wafer-to-wafer thickness http://www.findthatpatent.com/Method_of ... 89800.html


But here is an example where it is clearly a mistake (probably typgraphical) in the title:

China suspends export of of toxic toy beads
November 10, 2007

Beijing - Chinese authorities have suspended exports of toy beads after sets containing them were recalled in the United States because they contained a toxic chemical.
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSect ... Id=4122923

Originally Posted by chaika

A study of how efficiently various fractions of zeolite affect the speed at which microorganisms of petroleum hydrocarbons disperse in soil showed that ...

microorganisms decompose(?) petroleum hydrocarbons in soil

I chose decompose myself

Originally Posted by Ken Watts

I think you find "of" used twice most often in titles. Here are some examples that are all OK:

The most recent film version of Of Mice and Men (1992) was directed by Gary Sinise http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Mice_and_Men

A Little Bit of "This," a Little Bit of "That" http://www.llrx.com/columns/grammar3.htm

Overview of Sources of Canadian Law on the Web http://www.llrx.com/features/canadian4.htm

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System http://www.federalreserve.gov/

Revocation of Power of Attorney www.realatrends.com/documents/Revocatio ... torney.doc

Method of estimation of wafer-to-wafer thickness http://www.findthatpatent.com/Method_of ... 89800.html


But here is an example where it is clearly a mistake (probably typgraphical) in the title:



Beijing - Chinese authorities have suspended exports of toy beads after sets containing them were recalled in the United States because they contained a toxic chemical.
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSect ... Id=4122923

These examples are stupid. And this one:

China suspends export of of toxic toy beads
November 10, 2007

is simply a typo.


Of course you can have more than one 'of' in a sentence.

TATY wrote:

These examples are stupid.

Yes, in retrospect you are right. However I did not intend to contradict any of the other responses, just to give another thought about "double ofs" in a sentence or phrase. To be fair regarding my last example that you carved out, I did write that "it is clearly a mistake (probably typographical)" which means the same thing as your "is simply a typo".

"Heightening the quality of goods distribution" could also work - depending on how you are using it...