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power of attorney
Statthalterei
May 26, 2005 20:13
19 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term

factor in

English Art/Literary Linguistics
When God directs me, he doesn’t just point a cosmic finger and send me on my way; he goes with me. He plays a role. He takes part. He factors in.

I know you can factor SOMETHING in. But what does this verbal phrase mean here? why is the verb intransitive?
And yes, it's an American from Arizona, just in case it's a localism.
Responses
3 +6 become part of the equation
4 +8 figure in, include as a basic element.
3 +1 contributes
4 includes a particular fact or situation; takes into account
4 To take into account, to consider

Discussion

sergey (X) May 27, 2005:
to Rita: what i meant was exactly what i said:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are often described as "Semitic religions"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic
sergey (X) May 27, 2005:
to asker: factors in - is more like 'blends in'. you need to clarify what a synonym is.
i believe in the choice of being neither pro- nor -anti anything. being one or the other i find very limiting.
RHELLER May 26, 2005:
just for the record, I think Sergey meant "mosaic religions"
Non-ProZ.com May 26, 2005:
To sergey: He takes part = He factors in.
Synonyms.
That was my 95% guess before I got the answers here.
That is my conviction from now on.
Nothing to do with Semites or antisemites. Mere grammar.
Kim Metzger May 26, 2005:
I wouldn't assume that a specific object is implied. It sounds to me that it was deliberately omitted to allow for several possibilities - factors himself implies deliberate action. Omitting the object is like a passive construction: no agent.
sergey (X) May 26, 2005:
the only possible reason that i could give to explain that there is no subject and object in 'factors in' is that it's an attempt to explain in a semitic religion (where God is separate: He is somewhere else - in the skies) - that ALL is ONE
Non-ProZ.com May 26, 2005:
To Kim: I am not even close to a native's feeling of English. But it occurred to me that this tendency (factors Himself in > factors in) can be traced (guessed?) in verbal phrases like (he got himself up > he got up). I may be completely wrong with "get up", of course. But you all natives agree that an object is meant, but dropped in "factors in".
Can Altinbay May 26, 2005:
The term is not being misused, this form is deliberate. Though one usually factors things in, the sense here is that not only is God a factor, God took an active role and factored Himself in. I make no representation about my views on the subject.
RHELLER May 26, 2005:
he becomes part of the process - it would be more correct to say "he factors himself in"
Non-ProZ.com May 26, 2005:
To Kim: Thanks. I *factor* your working on it *in* before I send the finished translation :-)
Refugio May 26, 2005:
In style, it follows other familiar expressions like "He horns in", "He butts in," etc. But more respectful. In other words, He doesn't take no for an answer.
Kim Metzger May 26, 2005:
Yuri, thanks for the interesting question. I'm working on it.
Refugio May 26, 2005:
Yes, that's it.
Non-ProZ.com May 26, 2005:
To Kim: So, you mean to say it's kinda "He factors Himself in" with 'Himself' omitted?
Non-ProZ.com May 26, 2005:
To Oso (and those who agree with him/her): You give me the meaning of the transitive, object phrase. I know that. But there is no object in the sentence. That's what puzzles me.

Responses

+6
6 mins
Selected

become part of the equation

I'm not sure about the grammatical explanation for the intransitive use of the verb "to factor in". It seems verbs are frequently used this way in colloquial US English.

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Note added at 1 hr 16 mins (2005-05-26 21:29:56 GMT) Post-grading
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Well, I searched high and low for a grammatical explanation and came up empty. I think you can chalk it up to the evolving nature of language. At some point, people start using nouns as verbs (a functional shift): he \"headed\" for the toilet in a hurry. Verbs become nouns: take a \"walk\", etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree Refugio : Yes, we Yanks agree with our cousin Winston that struggling not to end a sentence with a preposition is "a form of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put."
7 mins
agree RHELLER : exactly!
14 mins
agree airmailrpl : becomes part of the equation
15 mins
agree Alp Berker
44 mins
agree Can Altinbay : Maybe you can call it the intrusive form of the verb. :0 Only kidding.
1 hr
agree SirReaL : Correct!
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks. Don't know if you're still working on the question (hope, you don't), but all is clear to me now. Special thanks to Ruth, Rita and Can :-)"
+8
2 mins

figure in, include as a basic element.

Just an idea.
Good luck from Oso ¶:^)

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Note added at 2005-05-26 20:17:03 (GMT)
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factor in
Figure in, include as a basic element. For example, In preparing the schedule we factored in vacation and sick days. This term comes from mathematics. [Mid-1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms

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Note added at 2005-05-26 20:19:46 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

figure in
2. **Play a part in**, as in His speaking ability definitely figured in his being chosen for the lead, or Their reduced income figures in all their recent decisions.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms
Peer comment(s):
agree María Teresa Taylor Oliver : He's included in the deal, so to speak... maybe :o)
1 min
Muchas gracias, MariTere ¶:º)
agree Refugio : figures in, is included ... (intransitive)
6 mins
Muchas gracias, Ruth ¶:º)
agree Lingo Pros : agree with 'play a part in'
18 mins
Thank you, Lingo Pros ¶:^)
agree airmailrpl : figures in
19 mins
Thank you, airmailrpl ¶:^)
agree Lesley Clarke : some terms are misused by native speakers
38 mins
Muchas gracias, Lesley ¶:^)
agree Alp Berker
47 mins
Thank you, Alp ¶:^)
agree Can Altinbay : Stronger than that, see my comment above.
1 hr
Thank you, Can ¶:^)
agree Alfa Trans (X)
21 hrs
Thanks, Marju ¶:^)
Something went wrong...
+1
17 mins

contributes

22) contribute. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...a contribution: contributes to several charities. 2. To help bring about a result; act as a factor: Exercise contributes to better health. 3. To submit material for...
Peer comment(s):
agree SirReaL
1 hr
thank you
Something went wrong...
9 mins

includes a particular fact or situation; takes into account

Declined
he accepts you as you are in a way

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Note added at 20 mins (2005-05-26 20:34:03 GMT)
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oh, and what is so wrong about my grammar?

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Note added at 25 mins (2005-05-26 20:39:20 GMT)
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HE factors in, accepts all the factors that define you - whether you are a scientist, a drunkard, a prostitute, a saint - he accepts you as you are.


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Note added at 35 mins (2005-05-26 20:49:13 GMT)
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yep, becomes part of the equation is another way to put it -
equation - the act of making sth equal or considering smth as equal
Something went wrong...
Comment: "Sorry. Utterly wrong. Both out of grammar and out of context."
47 mins

To take into account, to consider

I've given my answer in the English-Russian pair, so the asker must already be familiar with it. Here, I see, your explanations are different. So I would just like to quote from an OED article describing the meaning of this particular phrase:


***to factor in***, to include as a factor in an assessment; to take into consideration (orig. and chiefly N. Amer.)

With some quotations:

1975 Chemical Week 23 Apr. 28 British chemical makers are not sure..how much the oil will cost when government taxation plans are factored in.

1984 S. TALBOTT Deadly Gambits (1985) xviii. 334 START is a non-starter, and one reason is that it doesn't take sufficient account of bombers. Is there any way to factor in bombers?

1986 E. E. SMITH Miss Melville Regrets i. 10 It was a contingency she always had to factor into her plans.

1988 P. MONETTE Borrowed Time i. 15 This last..notion asked that we factor in his being from an exotic clime. 1

1991 Los Angeles Times 7 Jan. A17/2 All the political and military variables should be factored in before Israel decides on a response.
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