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I have a question about the meaning of these statements:

1a- The most effective method in developing and improving health is considered to be daily exercises. (Original)

1b- The most effective method developing and improving health is considered to be daily exercises.

1c- The most effective method to develop and improve health is considered to be daily exercises.

2a- He is wrong in saying, "Jack is stupid" . (Original)

2b- He is wrong saying, "Jack is stupid" .

2c- He is wrong to say, "Jack is stupid" .

Can I use the other versions instead of the 1a and 2a? Do 2b and 2c mean the same thing as the 2a version, and likewise with 1b and 1c?

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    C versions sound fine to me. B ones, though, not so much
    – krobelusmeetsyndra
    Commented Jul 31, 2019 at 16:51
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    1d- The most effective method of/for developing and... 2c- is my choice.
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Jul 31, 2019 at 16:55

1 Answer 1

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I would use "method for developing" or "method of developing". "Method to develop" is possible, but I don't find it as natural. The others I would not say.

"Wrong to say" is most natural for me, followed by "wrong in saying". I wouldn't say "wrong saying".

Note that questions like this are about the requirements of the particular words method and wrong: they are not governed by general rules.

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  • Thank you. What does "in" mean in the a versions?
    – Talha Özden
    Commented Jul 31, 2019 at 17:01
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    @TalhaÖzden: It's the same "in" as In what way / In what respect? as responses to the non-specific utterance He's wrong. Just an (optional) preposition loosely identifying the relationship between the "basic" statement (that he is wrong), and the specific wrong thing that he did.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Jul 31, 2019 at 17:14

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