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underway

sophi979

Senior Member
Serbo-Croatian
"When Susan was born in April 1969, the Polgar family experiment was underway".

Now I know that underway means in progress/having started, but this just doesn't fit the context. I don't want to bother you with the details (if you're not already familiar with Susan Polgar's story), but I am almost certain that the experiment actually started when she was born. Is there any chance at all for the above sentence to be interpreted this way? I do realize this is highly unlikely, but it just doesn't make any sense otherwise...

Thanks
I read the sentence as though the experiment started with Susan being born, but not being a native speaker, I might be wrong.
Once she was born, it could be said that the experiment had started. Unless you made a mistake when you wrote "I am almost certain that the experiment actually started when she was born," the sentence seems to make sense.
Maybe I'm missing something.
Once she was born, it could be said that the experiment had started. Unless you made a mistake when you wrote "I am almost certain that the experiment actually started when she was born," the sentence seems to make sense.
Maybe I'm missing something.

Now I am confused. I probably didn't express myself clearly.
Let me try again. Can the quoted sentence mean that the experiment started after Susan was born?

Thanks as ever👁 Smile :)
'Under way' originally means 'moving' in nautical terms, so once a ship was under way it had started.
Now it can be used for anything; once Susan was born, the experiment was moving, therefore it had started.
Now I am confused. I probably didn't express myself clearly.
Let me try again. Can the quoted sentence mean that the experiment started after Susan was born?

Thanks as ever👁 Smile :)

As I read the original sentence, it implies that the experiment started upon her birth or immediately after it.
"When Susan was born in April 1969, the Polgar family experiment was underway".
Can the quoted sentence mean that the experiment started after Susan was born?

Your question seems to revolve around the meaning of when. I share Suehil's "once she was born..." interpretation (and also her preference for under way as two words, but the compound is also correct.) It's really splitting hairs to try to determine if when refers to the moment of birth or a second following that event.
No, it cannot mean after she was born. Either it started at the moment she was born or, less likely, it could mean that it was already under way at the time.
Somewhat curious 👁 Smile :)

As I read the sentence, the Polgar family experiment began at any time up to the point when Susan was born. The discussion in my mind is whether it had already begun when she was born or whether her birth began it. There is nothing in the words used that tells me which is true.
Somewhat curious 👁 Smile :)

As I read the sentence, the Polgar family experiment began at any time up to the point when Susan was born. The discussion in my mind is whether it had already begun when she was born or whether her birth began it. There is nothing in the words used that tells me which is true.

You are absolutely right on all counts.
Thanks, everyone!
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