in terms of

in terms of
in terms of

• Let's face it —in terms of artistic talent, Emin isn't fit to wipe Monet's backside —Cherwell Mag. Online, 2005.

In 1993, the Oxford philosopher Michael Dummett had awarded this complex preposition the distinction of being ‘the lowest point so far in the present degradation of the English language’, when used as an all-purpose connector as in the example just given. Extreme though this opinion may be, and contrary to usage (there are thousands of occurrences in the OEC), the use it condemns is a far departure from the original (18c) use of the phrase as an expression of a precise mathematical relation. In its now predominant generalized use, in terms of is used most appositely when it states a particular specifying relation:

• The impact of Ibsen…did much to revitalize the degenerate English theatre and force it to think in terms of living ideas and contemporary realities —J. Mulgan & D. M. Davin, 1947

• Justifying space in terms of material wealth is as ridiculous as saying that man went to the Moon merely to be able to return with velcro zips and non-stick frying-pans —New Scientist, 1991.

When the meaning intended is as vague as ‘in relation to’, ‘concerning’, or ‘as regards’ (as in the example given at the beginning), these expressions are preferable.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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