makes a bad presentation
- Thread starter marciana
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I'm assuming that we are talking about something like a lecture, seminar, formal presentation of a topic to management/customers - that kind of presentation.
There is very little difference, so little that I'm having trouble thinking of one. Here is a possibility - no more than that, for I feel the two are very similar.
I suppose "makes a bad presentation" relates to the content of the presentation and the style and manner of the presenter.
"Makes for a bad presentation," relates to other circumstances surrounding the presentation such as the room, the accoustics ...
1. Too many words on the visual aids makes a bad presentation.
2. Arriving too late to check out the room, the technology and the audience makes for a bad presentation.
When I look at those, I could use "makes for" in (1), but I couldn't get rid of the "for" in (2). So there is some difference. Maybe someone else will explain it better.
There is very little difference, so little that I'm having trouble thinking of one. Here is a possibility - no more than that, for I feel the two are very similar.
I suppose "makes a bad presentation" relates to the content of the presentation and the style and manner of the presenter.
"Makes for a bad presentation," relates to other circumstances surrounding the presentation such as the room, the accoustics ...
1. Too many words on the visual aids makes a bad presentation.
2. Arriving too late to check out the room, the technology and the audience makes for a bad presentation.
When I look at those, I could use "makes for" in (1), but I couldn't get rid of the "for" in (2). So there is some difference. Maybe someone else will explain it better.
I agree with Panjandrum's explanation. I use the phrase makes for in cases where it means roughly adds up to or results in or creates.
Mispronouncing the prospective customer's name makes for a bad presentation.
Mispronouncing the prospective customer's name results in a bad presentation.
If I said, "Mispronouncing the prospective customer's name makes a bad presentation" that seems a bit illogical to me because the word mispronouncing--the subject of the sentence--is not the person making the presentation. Rather, it is the circumstance which is making the presentation bad. Does that make sense?
Mispronouncing the prospective customer's name makes for a bad presentation.
Mispronouncing the prospective customer's name results in a bad presentation.
If I said, "Mispronouncing the prospective customer's name makes a bad presentation" that seems a bit illogical to me because the word mispronouncing--the subject of the sentence--is not the person making the presentation. Rather, it is the circumstance which is making the presentation bad. Does that make sense?
marciana said:
I would add that "a bad presentation" is rather imprecise. What in particular is wrong with it? I'd suggest that you choose a more specific adjective.