culpable of the crime.

C

celine713

Senior Member
Chinese
If one aids and abets a criminal, he is also considered culpable of the crime.

I think it should be "be culpable for the crime", or am I being meticulous?
 
    • Hi,

    I don't think "of the crime" is necessary. Also, just to be meticulous, the subjects should match, otherwise it isn't clear who you are talking about.

    "If one aids and abets a criminal, one is also considered culpable."
     
    I think you're right, Celine. "Culpable" is often (erroneously) used as a synonym for "guilty" and since one is "guilty of" a crime, it's worded the same way. I believe, however, that it should be "culpable for".
     
    Hi, it is interesting! I just have found my grammar book says:
    "When one goes to see her, he/one should..."
    I find grammar oftern plays games with me...

    Thank you both for your refreshing ideas!
     
    Cheers Dimcl!

    Celine,
    In my day;), we were taught that subjects should match. "She", "he", "it", "one" etc. are all variations on the 3rd pers. singular, so by switching to a different one in your second clause, it's as if you're introducing a new person or element into the sequence. In your sentence, I automatically read the "he" as referring to the criminal. I had to push a few buttons in my head to understand that "he" refers to the person "aiding and abetting"!

    Maybe things have changed.. it was some time ago!
     
    GEmatt said:
    Cheers Dimcl!

    Celine,
    In my day;), we were taught that subjects should match. "She", "he", "it", "one" etc. are all variations on the 3rd pers. singular, so by switching to a different one in your second clause, it's as if you're introducing a new person or element into the sequence. In your sentence, I automatically read the "he" as referring to the criminal. I had to push a few buttons in my head to understand that "he" refers to the person "aiding and abetting"!

    Maybe things have changed.. it was some time ago!
    Click to expand...

    Hehe, you know, the grammar often beats me, and I have to flip again and again...It is nice to share opinions with you!
     
    I agree with GEmatt changing midway in a sentence can lead to far too much confusion. After all "one" is sexless, "he" is male. Not all people concerned with aiding and abetting are likely to be male.
    I also agree with Dimcl, "culpable" is a synonym of "responsible", which should be followed by "for".
    Isn't it pleasant when we all agree?
     
    difficult cuss said:
    I agree with GEmatt changing midway in a sentence can lead to far too much confusion. After all "one" is sexless, "he" is male. Not all people concerned with aiding and abetting are likely to be male.
    I also agree with Dimcl, "culpable" is a synonym of "responsible", which should be followed by "for".
    Isn't it pleasant when we all agree?
    Click to expand...

    Thank you, difficult cuss, I believe the use of "he"here is a little sexist!
    So, I decide to say:"if one... ,one...." then it will not sound too judgemental.:cool:

    Cheers
     
    Depends how old your grammar book is.

    Go back thirty years (maybe more) and 'one' and 'he' would have been interchangeable as a general reference to 'people'.
     
    Vikorr said:
    Depends how old your grammar book is.

    Go back thirty years (maybe more) and 'one' and 'he' would have been interchangeable as a general reference to 'people'.
    Click to expand...

    Very true, I'd better refresh my memories and turn to you walking dictionaries here:)
     
    difficult cuss said:
    [...]
    I also agree with Dimcl, "culpable" is a synonym of "responsible", which should be followed by "for".
    Isn't it pleasant when we all agree?
    Click to expand...
    Indeed it is, so I'm sorry to spoil the concord.
    The OED includes culpable of, not culpable for.
    The British National Corpus has 70 instances of culpable ...
    - of and - for have two genuine examples each.
     
    I've learnt yet another new thing. I shall however continue to think of it as 'culpable for' because I am a difficult cuss.
     
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