News Article

[newbie99]

Could someone explain the following sentence from a news article?:

"THE mother of an 11-year-old girl killed by a lorry driver who was on his mobile is getting behind a campaign to stop phones being used behind the wheel."

My initial thoughts in my mind was who got killed? The mother or the 11 year old.?
I find it very hard to understand the sentence.

[aelmpvw]

if the mother was killed how could she get behind the campaign?

[Cloverjo]

Haha, good trolling!
Oh yes, the mother who was killed is behind the campaign, of course!

Sorry to make light of a very serious and tragic incident.

[newbie99]

Aelmp, well responded. Thanks for the clue...
English is my worse area.

[Cloverjo]

Sorry. I shouldn't call you a troll, newbie99. You've been around a long time for a newbie:) I guess you are not a native English speaker, in which case your English is excellent.

[Old_Geezer]

The sentence could do with a couple of commas, IMO.
Wouldn't have helped your confusion though.

[ichkeria]

I think the context makes it clear. If it had been the mother who had been killed then she would have been the one doing the campaigning.

[maggiebee]

As OG suggested, punctuation would have made this statement easier to read.

[ToraToraTora]

I'm assuming English is not your first Language. It's clear to me.

[smurfchops]

Ichkeria ... Again, if the mother had been killed, how would she have been doing the campaigning?

[ToraToraTora]

i think ich meant "wouldn't" above

[Togo]

"THE mother, of an 11-year-old girl killed by a lorry driver who was on his mobile, is getting behind a campaign to stop phones being used behind the wheel."

Toga edit with punctuation.

[hc4361]

I don't like that first comma, Togo

[Togo]

Hmm perhaps this is better in hindsight.

"THE mother of an 11-year-old girl, killed by a lorry driver who was on his mobile, is getting behind a campaign to stop phones being used behind the wheel."

[fiction-factory]

In addition to the above answers, I suggest that if the mother had been the one who had died there would be liitle point in mentioning the age of her child.
I don't think the suggested extra commas help, but I realise that sometimes they are a matter of personal choice

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps we should be discussing the story behind the headline, rather than the headline itself?

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1005331/Dunstable-mother-Kate-Goldsmith-girl-killed-by-lorry-driver-Berkshire

[THECORBYLOON]

As you would no doubt advise others, start a new thread.

[The_Rim_Greaper]

as clear a daylight...run it through a few grammar checkers

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON
/// As you would no doubt advise others, start a new thread. ///

Who lifted your stone?

[THECORBYLOON]

Likely the same one that rattled your cage...

[Mamyalynne]

T_R_G, but we are so much more chatty and pleasant to discuss things with than a grammar checker.