Look at the sentence below. Is the word 'mere' used correctly?
6.1% of women in Scotland were unemployed in 2013, and this figure rose by a mere of 0.6% one year later.
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October 12, 2019
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Sir, give us more task and increase the length of lesson .It is Just one sentence lesson.Thanks.
Posted by: Pachu | October 12, 2019 at 16:24
6.1 % of women in Scotland were unemployed in 2013, and this figure rose by a mere 0.6 % one year later.
Posted by: Pachu | October 12, 2019 at 16:52
Hi Pachu,
Your answer is correct, as I'm sure you already know.
I know that this is a short post from Simon, but in the Archives there is plenty of material - going as far back as September 2009. So, you'll never be short of tasks to work on.
Good luck with your studies.
Posted by: Pete Walton | October 12, 2019 at 21:18
Ok thanks @ Pete Walton.
Posted by: Pachu | October 13, 2019 at 18:53
The sentence should use merely instead of mere.
6.1% of women in Scotland were unemployed in 2013, and this figure rose by merely 0.6% one year later.
Posted by: Ayush | October 15, 2019 at 05:30
6.1% of women in Scotland were unemployed in 2013, and this figure rose merely 0.6% one year later.
Posted by: Sidra | October 15, 2019 at 08:36
6.1% of women in Scotland were unemployed in 2013, and this figure rose merely by 0.6% one year later.
Posted by: sidra | October 15, 2019 at 08:37
FROM SIMON:
Pachu was right:
"this figure rose by a mere 0.6%.
We don't say "a mere OF".
NOTE: I don't recommend using 'merely' when describing numbers like this.
Posted by: Simon | October 15, 2019 at 13:55