Grammar pedants assemble!

The following sentence appear in a document I’m writing:

“The end result [of a particular transaction] will be the same across all systems but the functionality during the period before the completion of the transaction will be different”

The document has gone out for review, and someone is trying to tell me that it should say

“The end result [of a particular transaction] will be the same across all systems but the functionality during the period before the completion of the transaction will differ“

I don’t see what’s wrong with what I had. I suppose it might be a bit passive. Hmm… 😕

Whaddya think?

Second is right if you ask me…

Screw that – it needs a comma.

It’s a pretty clumsy sentence, second one is better.

Not grammar hound, but to me the “will be different” implies the functionality is definitely different, possibly deliberately. Whereas the “will differ” implies it may be variations.

The consequence of the transaction is causing the functionality to ‘do’ something (differ) so it has to be a verb.

Differ is the verb here so ‘statement 2’ is my choice.

PS – excuse the crap emboldening. 😉

PPS – got rid of it 🙄

but to me the “will be different” implies the functionality is definitely different, possibly deliberately. Whereas the “will differ” implies it may be variations.

It’s the word will that refers to certainty.
Both sentences look fine, one uses the adjective, the other a verb.

It’s a horrible sentence, possibly necessarily so, but horrible nonetheless.

Does this work?

“The end result [of a particular transaction] will be the same across all systems, but the functionality prior to the completion of the transaction will differ”

It needs a comma for sure, but the second sentence seems to me to require something else, like a “… will differ from…”

Your thread title needs a comm too. I’ll leave you to decide where.

2 is correct, as 1 implies a difference from the start, rather than between systems.

Can you drop “during the period”?

It is a pretty horrible sentence isn’t it? Just goes to show what you don’t see when you’ve been staring at the same document for three weeks.

I’m going with:

“The end result [of a particular transaction] will be the same across all systems. However, the functionality during the period of completion for the transaction will differ”

Yes?

Looking at it again – depending on the importance of the differing functionality it could do with a “; however,” rather than a “, but”.
**oops – beaten to it by OP**

Does this work?

“The end result [of a particular transaction] will be the same across all systems, but the functionality prior to the completion of the transaction will differ”

Yes, yes it does. And in fewer words than mine 😳

Your thread title needs a comm too. I’ll leave you to decide where.

Is this better?

“Grammar pedant’s, assemble!”

🙂

How about this?

The end result of transactions with differing functionality prior to completion will be the same across all systems.

I would go back to the person who wrote the second one, and say he’s half right. Surely it should be “functionalities will differ” (implied: from each other)?

The first one sounds iffy because it leaves you hanging, waiting for an object: “will differ from what?” (even though it’s obvious).

the reviewer found this unsatisfactory but replaced it with something that’s equally unsatisfactory for exactly the same reason. (“…from what”)

Can you turn it round?

“Although process functionality will vary from system to system, end results of transactions will be indentical”

Or something. Depends if you want to highlight the fact the functionality isn’t consistent, or the fact that the end results are the same.

You could always Yorkshireise it to:

“B’reet in’t end”

🙂

The following sentence appear in a document I’m writing:

I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves looking at what’s in his document.

Need ‘appear’ to be plural before we go any further.

Need ‘appear’ to be plural before we go any further.

Plural you say? 😉

Plural you say?

You think I’d have learnt (learned, learn’d, learnered?) to stay away from grammar threads by now, wouldn’t you?

Can’t type and even when I spell stuff right I tend to miss words off ther start of sentences;

“We need”

Difficult to judge without context, but the different/differ options don’t seem to make any difference to the meaning of the two sentences in their current form. What seems ambiguous is what is being compared; i.e. the functionality will be different from what, or will differ compared to what?

Is the intended meaning that different types of functionality can be used to deliver the same end result for a particular transaction?

What’s the difference between a result and an “end result”?

“The end result [of a particular transaction] will be the same across all systems but the functionality during the period before the completion of the transaction will be different”

Not sure if I’ve understood the sentence or context, but here’s my effort (in bold because I am pleased with it):

Different systems function differently while transactions complete, but all systems give the same results.

or it could be

Different systems offer different functionality while processing transactions, but give the same results.

What *are* these systems anyway and what are the transactions?!

“The end result [of a particular transaction] will be the same across all systems. However, the functionality during the period of completion for the transaction will differ”

Just saw this. I was quite close 🙂

Like vickypea says, though, I think you should lose the tautology (‘end result’). Unless there is also a beginning and a middle result?

Screw that – it needs a comma.

And a few random apostrophe’s

To make it more punchy, what about:

“Standard. Maybe.”?

ridiculously clumsy but the first is most accurate..

I’m guessing that the people advocating the second sentence are really stupid or trolling..?

or is it the second..? 😳

“to be” is a verb.

How about a reorder:

“Before a transaction is completed (/Whilst a transaction is in progress), functionality may differ between systems; however, the result will be consistent across them all.”

Bonus marks for a cheeky semi-colon.

Don’t you come round here lauding your semi-colon at us!

All’s Well That Ends Well (Which It Does)

What would you like us to assemble?

As mentioned above, it could do with a comma. I think the second option is best. Although I think it should say “will vary”.

colon.

Woody2000 wins the thread 😆

Surely you have to differ FROM something?

And an end result is different from an intermediate result.