Die from or die of?

melaniehoo · Sep 3, 2007

Does one 'die from' or 'die of' a disease?

This should be obvious to me. Now I'm dying of embarassment. Or from?

Ali B · Sep 3, 2007

From...I think.

melaniehoo · Sep 3, 2007

That's where I'm leaning. Thanks.

CaroGirl · Sep 3, 2007

alinasandor said:
From...I think.

Interesting. I would say "of". Perhaps it's a dialect issue.

I'd say:

He died of cancer in the fall of last year.
When she was caught, hours later, with her foot stuck in the floorboards of the rectory, she almost died of embarrassment.

melaniehoo · Sep 3, 2007

Well shoot, I'd say that too. Can we find a tie-breaker?

Tish Davidson · Sep 3, 2007

I'd say "died of" is less formal and most often used if he died of something general e.g. He died of heart failure (could be lots of causes). She died of an overwhelming infection (any type). He died of cancer (general) but he died from lung cancer (specific). I'd say died from if she died from a heart attack or he died from a blow to the left temple or from a gunshot wound to the chest. In medical writing it is usually phrased The cause of death was a blow to the left temple. I think you should go with the level of formality that suits the rest of the work and what your ear says sounds right.

Don Allen · Sep 3, 2007

I always say they died "of" something, but I really like the way they died "from" something better. No help, I know.

melaniehoo · Sep 3, 2007

Well, I'm telling my personal story and I'm the narrator, so I guess I can say whatever I please! I still can't make up my mind, but I do like from better.

SpookyWriter · Sep 3, 2007

melaniehoo said:
Well, I'm telling my personal story and I'm the narrator, so I guess I can say whatever I please! I still can't make up my mind, but I do like from better.

He died of loneliness. -- The heart (romance)
He died from loneliness. -- Absence of people or family (relationship)

melaniehoo · Sep 3, 2007

I'm saying "she died from breast cancer." Technically it was complications from the radiation. I'm confusing myself even more.

Tish Davidson · Sep 3, 2007

She died from complications of breast cancer treatment.

Karen Junker · Sep 3, 2007

melaniehoo said:
I'm saying "she died from breast cancer." Technically it was complications from the radiation. I'm confusing myself even more.

Jeez, Melanie - what you're writing can't be easy...hang in there!

benbradley · Sep 3, 2007

You mean none of the volumes of style books address This Important Issue?

For what it's worth, I think either one works.

melaniehoo · Sep 4, 2007

Karen Junker said:
Jeez, Melanie - what you're writing can't be easy...hang in there!

Thanks. I'm talking about my husband's mother, so it's harder on him.

melaniehoo · Sep 4, 2007

benbradley said:
You mean none of the volumes of style books address This Important Issue?

For what it's worth, I think either one works.

I had to leave most of my books with my parents when we came to Mexico. I could only bring what fit in the car, and clothes, pans, kitchen appliances and pillows got first dibs.

I'm hoping to find my reference books when I go home for Thanksgiving, but for now I have you guys.

So if I ask stupid grammar questions, that's why.

Cathy C · Sep 4, 2007

I think it depends on the cause of death--like Tish said.

You die FROM something inflicted on you: poison, gunshot, stabbing, strangling, drowning

You die OF something your body does naturally: heart attack, stroke, aneurism, etc.

JMHO, of course.

melaniehoo · Sep 4, 2007

I'm assuming cancer falls under the natural category?

Tish Davidson · Sep 4, 2007

10th edition of the American Medical Association style maunal p. 391.

"Persons die of, not from, specific diseases or disorders."

their example: He died of complications of disseminated intravascular coagulation

melaniehoo · Sep 4, 2007

Tish Davidson said:
10th edition of the American Medical Association style maunal p. 391.

"Persons die of, not from, specific diseases or disorders."

their example: He died of complications of disseminated intravascular coagulation

THANK you. Now I can sleep.

Die from or die of?

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

Ali B

Just Hanging Around

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

CaroGirl

Living the dream

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

Tish Davidson

Don Allen

Seeking a Sanctuary of Intelligence

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

SpookyWriter

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

Tish Davidson

Karen Junker

Live a little. Write a lot.

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

Tish Davidson

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits