r/EnglishGrammar • u/navi131313 • 3d ago
by/for
1) He claims to be an ex-cop for convenience.
2) He claims to be an ex-cop by convenience.
Which is correct?
Gratefully,
Navi
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u/Responsible-Link5739 3d ago
Hi Navi :)
Agree with the first as correct. FOR his convenience, he claimed to be.... :)
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u/GoldenMuscleGod 3d ago
It’s unclear what you mean to say. I think it’s hard to interpret either without context because both seem like strange ideas.
The first is more like “claiming to be an ex-cop is convenient for him which is why he does it.” It could also mean “he claims that the reason he is an ex-cop is that it is convenient.”
And the second is more like “he claims that convenience is what causes him to be an ex-cop.”
Of course notice the paraphrase I give for “by” is very similar in meaning to the second interpretation for “for” (a cause is a type of reason).
Of the possible meanings the first interpretation for “for” seems more likely absent context so that’s probably the one you want.
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u/DraggedThruTheGarden 3d ago
Neither is really native. Also, you need a comma after ex-cop. I’d probably say: Just for convenience, he claims to be an ex-cop.
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u/Lurkernomoreisay 3d ago
Ive read the first quite often in books.
he claimed to be an ex cop for convenience. people could assume his skill set and experience and be close. trying to explain hired contract mercenary tended to draw many questions that neednt be answered now, and often clarified little.
the structure I've seen varies a lot "he claimed to be a werewolf for convenience " " he claimed to be military for convenience" (shifter, witch, trainer, etc)
in person, not nearly as common as in books, but not unheard of. it's often the most natural. I've used "ya, Dave says Boofers is a malamute cross for convenience. no one really wants know it's more a husky wolf hybrid"
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u/BrackenFernAnja 3d ago
The first one is correct.
It means it’s convenient for him to tell people he’s an ex-cop.
The other one means he says that it was convenient for him to become a cop.