Broken way

[pinosilano]

Can I use 'broken way' as 'wrong way'?

For example:

But we have a broken way (wrong way) of thinking about it: we don't like to think of the people as being special, we think that what the people do is successful. ...

Thanks.

[wrholt]

Can I use 'broken way' as 'wrong way'?

For example:

But we have a broken way (wrong way) of thinking about it: we don't like to think of the people as being special, we think that what the people do is successful. ...

Thanks.

Not to my ears, no. A way (method/manner) can be right or wrong, or it can be effective or ineffective, or it can be valid or invalid, or it can be useful or useless, but it cannot be whole, unbroken, broken or repaired.

In fact, in the context you give, I would consider "ineffective", "unproductive" or "useless" as alternatives for "wrong".

[chileno]

Can I use 'broken way' as 'wrong way'?

For example:

*But we have a broken way (wrong way) of thinking about it: we don't like to think of the* people as being special, we think that what the people do is successful. *...*

Thanks.

I would say "yes"

Funny though, broken would mean fragmented, but does that have to mean necessarily that it doesn't work or works faulty...

[pinosilano]

I would say "yes"
Funny though, broken would mean fragmented, but does that have to mean necessarily that it doesn't work or works faulty...

Efectivamente, Chileno. Navegando en la red encontré un compatriota que deseaba saber si broken way podría ser 'champurrear', en el sentido que champurreando la guitarra la tocaba sin prestar mucha atención a lo que hacía, pero no significaba lo hacía completamente equivocado. Digamos que lo hacía con distracción.
Pero de esto me nació una duda: no recuerdo haber jamás escuchado "champurrear", sino "chapurrear"; y la duda es legítima porque estuve en Chile solamente 20 años y quizá no recuerde bien.:eek:

Gracias por tu respuesta.