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In today's USA today, the following sentence appeared:

Delta later emailed the flight’s customers with an apology, according to the Aviation Herald.

What is the with doing in that sentence? I'm assuming this is a typo. I would write the sentence without with. Am I missing something here?

The article.

michael_timofeev
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  • Typos don't usually include an extra four letter word. It sounds fine to me. – Matt Samuel Feb 02 '16 at 01:59
  • It's correct. The use of "with" in that sense is apparently something you're not familiar with, however. If "Delta later provided the flight’s customers with an apology" that would no doubt make sense. It works the same. – Hot Licks Feb 02 '16 at 02:04
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    No, it's not extra; it sounds fine. One presents someone with something. He presented her with the medal of honor. But it is somewhat optional. – anongoodnurse Feb 02 '16 at 02:05
  • @medica Well, then is this just a matter of personal choice? Personally, the preposition seems unnecessary. I would just say "I emailed you an apology." Why is the "with" preferred? – michael_timofeev Feb 02 '16 at 02:14
  • It's not preferred Ngrams. I asked a similar question a week ago – CDM Feb 02 '16 at 02:17
  • "I emailed you an apology" is probably more common, but it's really fine either way; "with" might be particularly appropriate if there was other content as well – anongoodnurse Feb 02 '16 at 02:20
  • @ChongDogMillionaire I've seen this usage in a few places and to me is wrong...but that's just me...that's why I was asking...see what other users say about thius. – michael_timofeev Feb 02 '16 at 02:22
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    From the airline's standpoint, "emailed ... with" sounds a bit more formal and polite. The line may have been (indirectly) copied from the airline's press release or some such. – Hot Licks Feb 02 '16 at 02:23
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    @HotLicks the day I take writing lessons from an airline is the day I... – michael_timofeev Feb 02 '16 at 02:25
  • Trust me, they have people to write the stuff who are much better paid than you are. – Hot Licks Feb 02 '16 at 02:28
  • @HotLicks No, they don't. – michael_timofeev Feb 02 '16 at 02:30
  • @HotLicks and since when did "better paid" mean better quality or more accurate information. I suppose JK Rowling was better paid than Fitzgerald so perhaps I should starting teaching harry Potter. – michael_timofeev Feb 02 '16 at 02:31
  • What? You don't think an airline magazine is right up there with, say, "The Economist", in its command of English and grasp of issues? One wonders how correct the German was in GermanWings's apology. – ab2 Feb 02 '16 at 03:34
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    I think it means, Delta emailed them and inside the email there was an apology. If it was just; emailed an apology, I would assume that the whole email was an apology. But from that sentence I understand that there was some other content together with an apology in the email. – Grizzly Feb 02 '16 at 03:46
  • @Grizzly I like that interpretation. Put it in an answer and I'll vote it best. – michael_timofeev Feb 02 '16 at 04:23
  • Shamelessly posting my comment as an answer :) – Grizzly Feb 02 '16 at 04:35
  • @Grizzly fine by me. I'm a satisfied customer. – michael_timofeev Feb 02 '16 at 04:36

1 Answers1

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I interpret it as, Delta emailed them and inside the email there was an apology. If it was just; emailed an apology, I would assume that the whole email was an apology. But from that sentence I understand that there was some other content together with an apology in the email.

Grizzly
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