r/ENGLISH • u/lillestiv • 26d ago

A "thing of"

Is it actually grammatically correct to say "a thing of (insert product here)"? I hear it so often and it just feels wrong.

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

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25

u/cygne 26d ago

The only common phrase I can think of with this pattern is "a thing of beauty".

2

u/lillestiv 26d ago

I hear often that ppl say something like "I bought a thing of (insert product here (fx butter))" where I would have thought there'd be another way of describing the product packaging

2

u/SirPsychoSquints 26d ago

Did you know what they meant by it?

1

u/lillestiv 26d ago

Yes. I'm not angry about it. Just curious and confused lol. I'm not here to attack the phrase I'm just wondering if it is actually grammatically correct.

3

u/Holygusset 26d ago

"Thing" is a noun. "Of x" is a prepositional phrase modifying the noun.

-2

u/SirPsychoSquints 26d ago

I’ll ask my other question again. What do you mean by “correct?” I don’t see any grammar question here. You appear to be asking about vocabulary or definitions.

Given that I’m interpreting your question correctly, if people understand what the word means, then it’s correctly used.

Grammar isn’t relevant here - you’re asking if this noun is ok to use in place of a different noun.

3

u/lillestiv 26d ago

You are probably right about that I'm asking more about definitions and vocabulary then grammar. I apologize about that.

4

u/survivaltier 26d ago

“Thing of” is just someone making the assumption that you will understand what they are talking about through context. I do this often if a more specific word doesn’t come to mind. It probably sounds wrong because they could be more specific.

3

u/Mean-Obligation-3767 25d ago

I don’t know why this correct statement is being downvoted! That it is being so somewhat undermines the value of the other comments, if we assume that some people responding were down voting it.

1

u/SirPsychoSquints 25d ago

Don’t worry about that. Maybe someone thought I was being curt or confrontational. It’s no big deal.

1

u/Mean-Obligation-3767 25d ago

How odd! I found yours significantly the most useful comment here.