What does “or so he would have us believe” mean? Retrend that email to my inbox

He wrote: “Pytheas tells us that Thule is one day’s sail from the congealed sea… and this Pytheas saw with his own eyes – or so he would have us believe.

Why is the mood or the conjunction so

strange: It’s a simple choice?

Asked on December 25, 2021 in Grammar.
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31 Answer(s)

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on March 30, 2022.
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I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on December 26, 2021.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on January 14, 2022.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on January 18, 2022.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on January 20, 2022.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on January 21, 2022.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on February 2, 2022.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on February 6, 2022.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on February 21, 2022.
Add Comment

I love American English,can you please explain my motivation behind this blog?

“-/, or so he/she/they would have you believe.” implies that the precedent may be presented as a falsehood, lie, or misrepresentation.

In your example, it implies that Pytheas may be bearing false witness and was in fact an eyewitness to the event(s).

What makes Monsanto a “nice” corporation that makes safe products, or so they would have you believe,” implies Monsanto is (or may be) in fact, not a lovely corporation AND/OR does not make safe products? This could indicate direct mirepresentation by Monsanto, or by third parties (‘they’) such as new outlets or attorneys.

May also look a bit harder than you think.

Answered on February 24, 2022.
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