What do you make of this sentence?

I was given a task the other day which included the following requirement:

“Content is categorized by the intersection of strategic priority and organizations and the pull through between organizations.”

I considered telling the woman who provided this instruction what she could pull but thought better of it.

All orginizations had better come together on a joint agreement on what’s best for the company’s future.

If this instruction was accompanied by a set of items to categorize I would say that the sentence means “throw these items into the trash bin.”

It doesn’t make a bit of sense. I would just ask the person assigning the task for clarification. There has got to be a simpler way of expressing what they want.

Oddly enough and in what one might call an extremely unlikely turn of events a PowerPoint file provided later did clarify the sentence.

Was she asking you to take the trash to the curb?

Don’t keep us in suspense. . .what does it mean?! :thinking:

im a freshman in highschool for crying out loud!!! how am i supposed to know?? :thinking:

The content has to be organized by priorities and organization. No wait. I give up. That sentence was nuts. I think I’m going to cry.

Content = content, a state of happiness or bliss

is categorized = is sorted out

by the intersection = next to the road junction

of strategic priority = with important military significance

and organizations = and organizations (How simple is that?)

and the pull = and the bedroom or bathroom lightswitch

through = are no longer in a romantic relationship

between organizations = between organisations.

So the sentence unpacks as:
<<A state of happiness or bliss is sorted out next to the road junction with important military significance, and organizations and the bedroom or bathroom lightswitch are no longer in a romantic relationship between organisations.>>

How simple is that?

PML

It’s nice to have you over on JC mikefule.

Cathy

In about 5 minutes I am meeting with the woman who wrote the original sentence. I’ll try that out on her.

Ah, she’s a no show. I was hoping to put a face to the inanity.

Very interesting.

This puts a perspective on matters well worth bearing in mind.

Edit: fight fire with fire

Sounds like the writer is practicing to be a politician.

The woman has a great future working as a consultant to help companies and departments develop mission statements.

The Dilbert Mission Statement Generator

Sounds like it came from Dilbert’s mission statement generator!

Let me do that for you:

“If your thoughts are rubbish merely
Don’t express yourself too clearly.”

“Content is categorized by [extra stuff that can be left out without altering the meaning] strategic priority and organizations and the pull through between organizations.”

I only got the part about intersection, I think that can be left out.

haha i cant stop laughing wen i read that, :thinking: dont no y but i cant :thinking: hmmmmmmmbut about the sentence :thinking: um i think u make files of wut groups can do and put the the groups that can do it in the files :thinking: but the above explanation looks preety good :thinking: seriously, u coudlnt figger that out :thinking: :thinking: :thinking:

It looks like a good candidate to go in my next english paper :slight_smile:

…except wait, that would be pledgarism! :frowning: