1. Ralph Gnarlsford

    Ralph Gnarlsford New Member

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    Alternative to seemingly unknowingly

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Ralph Gnarlsford, Sep 18, 2020.

    I want to convey that one of the characters in my story believes that another character is unaware that his acts are providing something for her. What I have now doesn't seem to work. Here's the start of the sentence I've come up with but want to change.

    He had seemingly unknowingly provided Emily with some of her favorite ideas.

    Thanks
     
  2. alpacinoutd

    alpacinoutd Senior Member

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    He had somewhat unwittingly provided Emily with some of her favorite ideas.
     
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  3. Ralph Gnarlsford

    Ralph Gnarlsford New Member

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    Later on in the story Emily will learn that he did know he was providing her with ideas. So I really need to express that she hadn't even considered that he may have known he was giving her ideas. I'm afraid somewhat unknowingly isn't capturing that for me. Maybe I'll have to break up the sentence into two that expresse her belief that he was unaware of what he was doing and the second that he was providing her with ideas.
     
  4. r.ross

    r.ross Member

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    He had provided Emily with some of her favourite (sorry I'm British) ideas, though she seemed to be completely unaware of his influence.
     
  5. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    He seemed to have unknowingly provided etc.
     
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  6. Ralph Gnarlsford

    Ralph Gnarlsford New Member

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    Thank you, I think that works!
     
  7. TheOtherPromise

    TheOtherPromise Senior Member

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    If this is from Emily's PoV then all you need to say is that he had unknowingly provided the ideas. Since that is her conclusion of what had happened and we are only privy to her conclusions. Unless she suspects that it was intentional, then include the seemed because she has doubts.
     
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  8. Ralph Gnarlsford

    Ralph Gnarlsford New Member

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    Thank you, that makes sense.
     

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