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Strange use of “whether … than …” in official text



The Next CEO of Stack Overflow“Whether or not” vs. “whether”Can I use “because” more than once in a sentence?How to use “text” as a verbHow to conclude long “whether … or” clausesUse of “if”/“whether”Is the use of ”comfort” ok in this text?Question regarding the use of “rather than”“Enquire about whether” vs. “enquire whether”“whether” or “according as” or …?As strange a question as any










4















Is using "whether ... than ..." in the following grammatically correct? "This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018."



The phrase comes from the IRS publication 519 (2018), Chapter 1, Section "Dual-Status Aliens", Subsection "Last Year of Residency", Paragraph "Residency during the next year", with my bold.




Residency during the next year. If you are a U.S. resident during any part of 2019 and you are a resident during any part of 2018, you will be treated as a resident through the end of 2018. This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018, and whether you are a resident under the substantial presence test or green card test.




(I should add that I am obviously not looking for legal advice: in any case this paragraph does not apply to me.)










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  • This applies if it's true that you have a closer connection...

    – Centaurus
    3 hours ago















4















Is using "whether ... than ..." in the following grammatically correct? "This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018."



The phrase comes from the IRS publication 519 (2018), Chapter 1, Section "Dual-Status Aliens", Subsection "Last Year of Residency", Paragraph "Residency during the next year", with my bold.




Residency during the next year. If you are a U.S. resident during any part of 2019 and you are a resident during any part of 2018, you will be treated as a resident through the end of 2018. This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018, and whether you are a resident under the substantial presence test or green card test.




(I should add that I am obviously not looking for legal advice: in any case this paragraph does not apply to me.)










share|improve this question







New contributor




Bruno Le Floch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




















  • This applies if it's true that you have a closer connection...

    – Centaurus
    3 hours ago













4












4








4








Is using "whether ... than ..." in the following grammatically correct? "This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018."



The phrase comes from the IRS publication 519 (2018), Chapter 1, Section "Dual-Status Aliens", Subsection "Last Year of Residency", Paragraph "Residency during the next year", with my bold.




Residency during the next year. If you are a U.S. resident during any part of 2019 and you are a resident during any part of 2018, you will be treated as a resident through the end of 2018. This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018, and whether you are a resident under the substantial presence test or green card test.




(I should add that I am obviously not looking for legal advice: in any case this paragraph does not apply to me.)










share|improve this question







New contributor




Bruno Le Floch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












Is using "whether ... than ..." in the following grammatically correct? "This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018."



The phrase comes from the IRS publication 519 (2018), Chapter 1, Section "Dual-Status Aliens", Subsection "Last Year of Residency", Paragraph "Residency during the next year", with my bold.




Residency during the next year. If you are a U.S. resident during any part of 2019 and you are a resident during any part of 2018, you will be treated as a resident through the end of 2018. This applies whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018, and whether you are a resident under the substantial presence test or green card test.




(I should add that I am obviously not looking for legal advice: in any case this paragraph does not apply to me.)







grammaticality






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share|improve this question







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asked 3 hours ago









Bruno Le FlochBruno Le Floch

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  • This applies if it's true that you have a closer connection...

    – Centaurus
    3 hours ago

















  • This applies if it's true that you have a closer connection...

    – Centaurus
    3 hours ago
















This applies if it's true that you have a closer connection...

– Centaurus
3 hours ago





This applies if it's true that you have a closer connection...

– Centaurus
3 hours ago










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















3














The phrase is saying "whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than you do to the United States". I see no cohesion between whether and than here.






share|improve this answer






























    2














    In the sentence



    whether



    is used as a function word to indicate an indirect question involving stated or implied alternatives
    (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whether).



    Than



    is not connected with 'whether' but with the comparative form
    closer .






    share|improve this answer






























      1














      The sentence in question is perfectly grammatical. It follows the following pattern:




      X is applicable whether a comparison is true (you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018).




      This said, there's no relation between whether and than.






      share|improve this answer























      • The sentence is poorly constructed -- almost designed to confuse. But, yes, it's still "perfectly grammatical".

        – Hot Licks
        1 hour ago


















      1














      It's not strange. It's correct. Let's make it easier to digest by putting the subordinate clause first:




      "Whether (or not) you have a closer connection to a foreign country
      than the United States during 2018, this applies to you."




      I added "or not" in parentheses because it is meant but is left implied, which is often the case in English and is the case in this sentence. Maybe this is what's throwing you off, like by you mistakenly thinking the "than" is providing the "or" alternative for "whether" that's been omitted, "than" and "or" both being conjunctions.



      Here's a simplified version of the sentence:




      "Whether or not you have a closer friend than Uncle Sam, this applies."




      To be clear, the above sentence doesn't mean the same thing as your sentence. It is merely a similar sentence that doesn't use so many words so it becomes clearer what the structure is and what's being said.






      share|improve this answer
































        1














        It's ungrammatical, because "other" has been mistakenly omitted. It should have been "... a closer connection to a foreign country other than the United States". The "whether" has nothing to do with it.



        It might not be ungrammatical in a dialect of English other than mine (contemporary Midwestern American), but without the "other", it just doesn't work for me, at all.






        share|improve this answer























        • Another possibility is *whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than to the United States."

          – Peter Shor
          1 hour ago











        • @PeterShor, Yes, I agree.

          – Greg Lee
          1 hour ago











        Your Answer








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        5 Answers
        5






        active

        oldest

        votes








        5 Answers
        5






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        3














        The phrase is saying "whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than you do to the United States". I see no cohesion between whether and than here.






        share|improve this answer



























          3














          The phrase is saying "whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than you do to the United States". I see no cohesion between whether and than here.






          share|improve this answer

























            3












            3








            3







            The phrase is saying "whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than you do to the United States". I see no cohesion between whether and than here.






            share|improve this answer













            The phrase is saying "whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than you do to the United States". I see no cohesion between whether and than here.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 2 hours ago









            Jim MackJim Mack

            7,09721832




            7,09721832























                2














                In the sentence



                whether



                is used as a function word to indicate an indirect question involving stated or implied alternatives
                (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whether).



                Than



                is not connected with 'whether' but with the comparative form
                closer .






                share|improve this answer



























                  2














                  In the sentence



                  whether



                  is used as a function word to indicate an indirect question involving stated or implied alternatives
                  (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whether).



                  Than



                  is not connected with 'whether' but with the comparative form
                  closer .






                  share|improve this answer

























                    2












                    2








                    2







                    In the sentence



                    whether



                    is used as a function word to indicate an indirect question involving stated or implied alternatives
                    (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whether).



                    Than



                    is not connected with 'whether' but with the comparative form
                    closer .






                    share|improve this answer













                    In the sentence



                    whether



                    is used as a function word to indicate an indirect question involving stated or implied alternatives
                    (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whether).



                    Than



                    is not connected with 'whether' but with the comparative form
                    closer .







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 2 hours ago









                    user307254user307254

                    4,0302516




                    4,0302516





















                        1














                        The sentence in question is perfectly grammatical. It follows the following pattern:




                        X is applicable whether a comparison is true (you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018).




                        This said, there's no relation between whether and than.






                        share|improve this answer























                        • The sentence is poorly constructed -- almost designed to confuse. But, yes, it's still "perfectly grammatical".

                          – Hot Licks
                          1 hour ago















                        1














                        The sentence in question is perfectly grammatical. It follows the following pattern:




                        X is applicable whether a comparison is true (you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018).




                        This said, there's no relation between whether and than.






                        share|improve this answer























                        • The sentence is poorly constructed -- almost designed to confuse. But, yes, it's still "perfectly grammatical".

                          – Hot Licks
                          1 hour ago













                        1












                        1








                        1







                        The sentence in question is perfectly grammatical. It follows the following pattern:




                        X is applicable whether a comparison is true (you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018).




                        This said, there's no relation between whether and than.






                        share|improve this answer













                        The sentence in question is perfectly grammatical. It follows the following pattern:




                        X is applicable whether a comparison is true (you have a closer connection to a foreign country than the United States during 2018).




                        This said, there's no relation between whether and than.







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered 2 hours ago









                        Lucian SavaLucian Sava

                        13925




                        13925












                        • The sentence is poorly constructed -- almost designed to confuse. But, yes, it's still "perfectly grammatical".

                          – Hot Licks
                          1 hour ago

















                        • The sentence is poorly constructed -- almost designed to confuse. But, yes, it's still "perfectly grammatical".

                          – Hot Licks
                          1 hour ago
















                        The sentence is poorly constructed -- almost designed to confuse. But, yes, it's still "perfectly grammatical".

                        – Hot Licks
                        1 hour ago





                        The sentence is poorly constructed -- almost designed to confuse. But, yes, it's still "perfectly grammatical".

                        – Hot Licks
                        1 hour ago











                        1














                        It's not strange. It's correct. Let's make it easier to digest by putting the subordinate clause first:




                        "Whether (or not) you have a closer connection to a foreign country
                        than the United States during 2018, this applies to you."




                        I added "or not" in parentheses because it is meant but is left implied, which is often the case in English and is the case in this sentence. Maybe this is what's throwing you off, like by you mistakenly thinking the "than" is providing the "or" alternative for "whether" that's been omitted, "than" and "or" both being conjunctions.



                        Here's a simplified version of the sentence:




                        "Whether or not you have a closer friend than Uncle Sam, this applies."




                        To be clear, the above sentence doesn't mean the same thing as your sentence. It is merely a similar sentence that doesn't use so many words so it becomes clearer what the structure is and what's being said.






                        share|improve this answer





























                          1














                          It's not strange. It's correct. Let's make it easier to digest by putting the subordinate clause first:




                          "Whether (or not) you have a closer connection to a foreign country
                          than the United States during 2018, this applies to you."




                          I added "or not" in parentheses because it is meant but is left implied, which is often the case in English and is the case in this sentence. Maybe this is what's throwing you off, like by you mistakenly thinking the "than" is providing the "or" alternative for "whether" that's been omitted, "than" and "or" both being conjunctions.



                          Here's a simplified version of the sentence:




                          "Whether or not you have a closer friend than Uncle Sam, this applies."




                          To be clear, the above sentence doesn't mean the same thing as your sentence. It is merely a similar sentence that doesn't use so many words so it becomes clearer what the structure is and what's being said.






                          share|improve this answer



























                            1












                            1








                            1







                            It's not strange. It's correct. Let's make it easier to digest by putting the subordinate clause first:




                            "Whether (or not) you have a closer connection to a foreign country
                            than the United States during 2018, this applies to you."




                            I added "or not" in parentheses because it is meant but is left implied, which is often the case in English and is the case in this sentence. Maybe this is what's throwing you off, like by you mistakenly thinking the "than" is providing the "or" alternative for "whether" that's been omitted, "than" and "or" both being conjunctions.



                            Here's a simplified version of the sentence:




                            "Whether or not you have a closer friend than Uncle Sam, this applies."




                            To be clear, the above sentence doesn't mean the same thing as your sentence. It is merely a similar sentence that doesn't use so many words so it becomes clearer what the structure is and what's being said.






                            share|improve this answer















                            It's not strange. It's correct. Let's make it easier to digest by putting the subordinate clause first:




                            "Whether (or not) you have a closer connection to a foreign country
                            than the United States during 2018, this applies to you."




                            I added "or not" in parentheses because it is meant but is left implied, which is often the case in English and is the case in this sentence. Maybe this is what's throwing you off, like by you mistakenly thinking the "than" is providing the "or" alternative for "whether" that's been omitted, "than" and "or" both being conjunctions.



                            Here's a simplified version of the sentence:




                            "Whether or not you have a closer friend than Uncle Sam, this applies."




                            To be clear, the above sentence doesn't mean the same thing as your sentence. It is merely a similar sentence that doesn't use so many words so it becomes clearer what the structure is and what's being said.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited 1 hour ago

























                            answered 1 hour ago









                            Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman

                            5,35231639




                            5,35231639





















                                1














                                It's ungrammatical, because "other" has been mistakenly omitted. It should have been "... a closer connection to a foreign country other than the United States". The "whether" has nothing to do with it.



                                It might not be ungrammatical in a dialect of English other than mine (contemporary Midwestern American), but without the "other", it just doesn't work for me, at all.






                                share|improve this answer























                                • Another possibility is *whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than to the United States."

                                  – Peter Shor
                                  1 hour ago











                                • @PeterShor, Yes, I agree.

                                  – Greg Lee
                                  1 hour ago















                                1














                                It's ungrammatical, because "other" has been mistakenly omitted. It should have been "... a closer connection to a foreign country other than the United States". The "whether" has nothing to do with it.



                                It might not be ungrammatical in a dialect of English other than mine (contemporary Midwestern American), but without the "other", it just doesn't work for me, at all.






                                share|improve this answer























                                • Another possibility is *whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than to the United States."

                                  – Peter Shor
                                  1 hour ago











                                • @PeterShor, Yes, I agree.

                                  – Greg Lee
                                  1 hour ago













                                1












                                1








                                1







                                It's ungrammatical, because "other" has been mistakenly omitted. It should have been "... a closer connection to a foreign country other than the United States". The "whether" has nothing to do with it.



                                It might not be ungrammatical in a dialect of English other than mine (contemporary Midwestern American), but without the "other", it just doesn't work for me, at all.






                                share|improve this answer













                                It's ungrammatical, because "other" has been mistakenly omitted. It should have been "... a closer connection to a foreign country other than the United States". The "whether" has nothing to do with it.



                                It might not be ungrammatical in a dialect of English other than mine (contemporary Midwestern American), but without the "other", it just doesn't work for me, at all.







                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered 1 hour ago









                                Greg LeeGreg Lee

                                14.9k2933




                                14.9k2933












                                • Another possibility is *whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than to the United States."

                                  – Peter Shor
                                  1 hour ago











                                • @PeterShor, Yes, I agree.

                                  – Greg Lee
                                  1 hour ago

















                                • Another possibility is *whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than to the United States."

                                  – Peter Shor
                                  1 hour ago











                                • @PeterShor, Yes, I agree.

                                  – Greg Lee
                                  1 hour ago
















                                Another possibility is *whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than to the United States."

                                – Peter Shor
                                1 hour ago





                                Another possibility is *whether you have a closer connection to a foreign country than to the United States."

                                – Peter Shor
                                1 hour ago













                                @PeterShor, Yes, I agree.

                                – Greg Lee
                                1 hour ago





                                @PeterShor, Yes, I agree.

                                – Greg Lee
                                1 hour ago










                                Bruno Le Floch is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









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