'Convince x of y' = 'reassure x about y'

[Jonathan Lighter]

"About" would raise the sentence to the level of ordinary rather than
preternatural  badness.

JL

On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 12:55 PM, Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at gmail.com> wrote:

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> Poster:       Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: 'Convince x of y' = 'reassure x about y'
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I don't see what is wrong with the 'Convince x of y' construction, as long
> as y makes sense in the context of convince.
>
> "Safety issues" makes no sense to me. "The need to wear a helmet while
> riding your bike" does make sense to me. So does "the importance of safety
> issues".
>
> DanG
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 10:29 AM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
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> > Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> > Subject:      Re: 'Convince x of y' = 'reassure x about y'
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Is it OK with Jon if the preposition "of" is replaced by "about" --
> > "convincing parents about the safety issues"?
> >
> > Joel
> >
> > At 11/14/2012 05:00 AM, Damien Hall wrote:
> > >Anyone come across such a reshaping as this?
> > >
> > >In a story about a 'light quadricycle' with a car-like body, being
> > >marketed as a safer alternative to scooters and mopeds, for teens:
> > >
> > >'We believe that the young rider market for scooters and mopeds has
> > >been contracting lately. [...] That is due to the difficulty in
> > >convincing parents of the safety issues surrounding mopeds and
> scooters.'
> > >
> > >- from 'A car you can drive at 16... but at 28mph', UK _Metro_
> > >(Newcastle-upon-Tyne edition), 14 Nov 12, p10
> > >
> > >As I say, I _think_ this is a reshaping of the meaning of _convince
> > >(of)_.  I originally thought it was an extension of the meaning of
> > >'safety issue' from the usual 'safety-related problem' to 'fact that
> > >safety (which is a legitimate concern) is not an issue' - but,
> > >re-reading it, I think that the reshaping is rather with _convince
> > >(of)_.  I'm not really sure - this marketing manager's quote is, in
> > >any case, not very felicitous.
> > >
> > >Damien
> > >
> > >--
> > >
> > >Damien Hall
> > >Newcastle University (UK)
> > >
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