Many people ask with supplication about which generation is happier?
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2It seems like an odd usage to me, but we would need the context of it to decide for sure. Who would the people be supplicating to?– Jason PattersonNov 2, 2015 at 1:28
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It almost surely cannot be correct, because it ends with a question mark, but does not appear to be able to function as a question...– user21820Nov 29, 2015 at 12:02
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Supplicants tend to want tangible things, not the mere opinion of others.– lurkerJan 2, 2016 at 0:27
1 Answer
Supplication requires a relationship. A supplicant is one who asks reverently of another, the other being a great person / being than the asker.
You could also use the word, reverence, to get a feel for the proper use of supplication.
Many people ask with reverence about which generation is happier.
In this context, who are they revering? Who would they supplicate to? For instance, this could make sense:
When they approach God, many people ask with supplication about which generation is happier.
Whereas this would not make sense:
When people get together in the bar to talk about society, many people ask with supplication about which generation is happier.
** As a side note, you are making a statement so the sentence would end with a period. And it would flow more naturally like, "Many people ask which generation is happier."