Need English Language Help

[R. Richard]

I'm a graduate mathematician. I'm a published author with 19 published novels. However I need some English language help. The following was published in an article about a brewer in an investment magazine:

"Managing its three biggest expenses -- energy, glass bottles, barley, hops and other grains -- was key to ..."

1) Energy is an expense in the brewing business.
2) Glass bottles are an expense, when the beer is sold in glass bottles.
4) Barley, a grain, is an expense in the brewing business.
5) Hops, a perennial herb (not a grain,) is a normal expense in the brewing business.
6) Other grains, can be an expense in the brewing business. The brewer in question also makes at least wheat beer.

The article cites three expenses and then lists six sources of expense. Are the first three items cited the biggest expenses? If so, why do they then list three more expense sources? If they're just listing expenses, why not also list labor, transportation, selling, interest, etc.? If a brewer is making wheat beer, I would think that wheat would be a major expense, yes/no?

Is it possible that the stupid ass hole writing the article can't count? Is it possible that the stupid ass hole writing the article can't stand to proof read the crap? Are the inmates running the asylum?

 

[JackLuis]

Are the inmates running the asylum?

Yes, yes they are.

 

[Huckleman2000]

Is it possible you're off your medication?

Maybe the author chose to just include expenses that are unique to a brewery.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Maybe the author has been into the beer.

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm a graduate mathematician. I'm a published author with 19 published novels. However I need some English language help. The following was published in an article about a brewer in an investment magazine:

"Managing its three biggest expenses -- energy, glass bottles, barley, hops and other grains -- was key to ..."

1) Energy is an expense in the brewing business.
2) Glass bottles are an expense, when the beer is sold in glass bottles.
4) Barley, a grain, is an expense in the brewing business.
5) Hops, a perennial herb (not a grain,) is a normal expense in the brewing business.
6) Other grains, can be an expense in the brewing business. The brewer in question also makes at least wheat beer.

The article cites three expenses and then lists six sources of expense. Are the first three items cited the biggest expenses? If so, why do they then list three more expense sources? If they're just listing expenses, why not also list labor, transportation, selling, interest, etc.? If a brewer is making wheat beer, I would think that wheat would be a major expense, yes/no?

Is it possible that the stupid ass hole writing the article can't count? Is it possible that the stupid ass hole writing the article can't stand to proof read the crap? Are the inmates running the asylum?

Maybe it's in the wording.
For energy, glass bottles, and barley it says they are an expense.
Hops states it's a normal expense.
And other grains can be an expense.

Or maybe I've been editing too long today . . .

*wondering what happened to the number three*

 

[Lisa Summers]

Not to nitpick, but it implies that hops are a grain - they're not.

 

[midwestyankee]

Consider this possibility: the sentence should have been punctuated differently. If it read, "Managing its three biggest expenses -- energy; glass bottles; and barley, hops and other grains -- was key to ..." then it would be more clear that "barley, hops and other grains" was meant to be included as a single item. The list could easily have been conveyed as energy, glass bottles, and grain products.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I know psychiatry well enough to spot blunders others make when they write about mental health issues. Some blunders expose the novice, and some expose the person with limited experience in the trade. And occasionally you'll uncover a master. I know from how they present the material.

 

[oggbashan]

Blame the editor or sub-editor.

What was possibly written was:

1. Energy, 2. Packaging (barrels, tins, glass bottles, overpacks), and 3. Ingredients (barley, hops and other grains)

Sub-editors hate lists and ellipses.

Og

 

[bronzeage]

Blame the editor or sub-editor.

What was possibly written was:

1. Energy, 2. Packaging (barrels, tins, glass bottles, overpacks), and 3. Ingredients (barley, hops and other grains)

Sub-editors hate lists and ellipses.

Og

This is on the mark and true of any manufacturing process. I am surprised to see payroll is not in the top three.

 

[SumLightCat]

This is on the mark and true of any manufacturing process. I am surprised to see payroll is not in the top three.

Automation?

 

[oggbashan]

This is on the mark and true of any manufacturing process. I am surprised to see payroll is not in the top three.

My local brewer, around since the 17th Century, employs very few people in the manufacturing and bottling processes. Last time I did a brewery tour when the plant was in full production mode there were less than a dozen people in total and most of them were in the bottling plant.

Distribution and Sales staff outnumbered the production team.

Og

 

[R. Richard]

Not to nitpick, but it implies that hops are a grain - they're not.

Cirrect, as I stated. However, I suspect that whoever wrote the article had no idea that hops are not a grain.

 

[Handley_Page]

Cirrect, as I stated. However, I suspect that whoever wrote the article had no idea that hops are not a grain.

"5) Hops, a perennial herb (not a grain,) is a normal expense in the brewing business"


No, I think it's that the author cannot count.
"Three biggest Expenses" and goes on to list more than three.

If he'd written:-
"Managing its three biggest expenses -- energy, glass bottles, ingredients . . . . ."
it would have made more sense.

And yes, he knows damn-all about brewing.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm a graduate mathematician. I'm a published author with 19 published novels. However I need some English language help. The following was published in an article about a brewer in an investment magazine:

"Managing its three biggest expenses -- energy, glass bottles, barley, hops and other grains -- was key to ..."

1) Energy is an expense in the brewing business.
2) Glass bottles are an expense, when the beer is sold in glass bottles.

4) Barley, a grain, is an expense in the brewing business.
5) Hops, a perennial herb (not a grain,) is a normal expense in the brewing business.
6) Other grains, can be an expense in the brewing business. The brewer in question also makes at least wheat beer.

The article cites three expenses and then lists six sources of expense. Are the first three items cited the biggest expenses? If so, why do they then list three more expense sources? If they're just listing expenses, why not also list labor, transportation, selling, interest, etc.? If a brewer is making wheat beer, I would think that wheat would be a major expense, yes/no?

Is it possible that the stupid ass hole writing the article can't count? Is it possible that the stupid ass hole writing the article can't stand to proof read the crap? Are the inmates running the asylum?

You're a fine one to complain. They list five expenses, not six. I suppose they meant energy, glass bottles and ingredients, such as barley, hops and other grains. and an editor shortened the sentence.