Topicalisation

Are the following sentences correct?
(i) My boss, he is a slave-driver.
(ii) For Amy, she is the most meticulous accountancy graduate I have ever met.
(iii) Concerning the meeting, it will be held tomorrow at 11:30.

The three sentences above reflect a common error called topicalisation in students' writing. In (i), the subject was unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'he': My boss, he is a slave-driver.

The same problem of subject repetition occurs in sentence (ii). The for construction could be a partial translation from Chinese to English and is not used in English. Sentence (i) should therefore be rewritten as:
My bossisa slave-driver.
subjectverbobject

Sentence(ii)should be re-written as: Amy is the most meticulous accountancy graduate I have ever met.

You should see by now that sentence (iii) also contains a redundant repetition of the subject and can be simplified to: The meeting will be held tomorrow at 11:30.

You may ask: When is concerning used then? Words like concerning, regarding, with regard to, as regards can be used in sentence constructions as below:

  1. Concerning X, Y ...
  2. Concerning X, X ...

Sentence (iii) is unacceptable as it follows the "Concerning X, X ..." structure.

Are the following sentences correct? Why?
(iv) Concerning the cost of each shipment, a catalogue for all the materials and packaging options are available at http://www.tokyugloves.com.
(v) Regarding marine insurance, our HR department will liaise with Gemini Kingstown.

Exercise

Correct the sentences in the space provided.

  1. As regards the removal of the electrical poles, it will be done by our workers by this Friday.

    Answer:
    The removal of the electrical poles will be done by our workers by this Friday. OR Our workers will remove the electrical poles by this Friday.

    Feedback:
    The subject ('removal' in this case) was unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'it'.

  2. As for the two fairly urgent problems, they will be handled by the cable maintenance team this afternoon.

    Answer:
    The two fairly urgent problems will be handled by the cable maintenance team this afternoon. OR The cable maintenance team will handle the two fairly urgent problems this afternoon.

    Feedback:
    The subject ('problems' in this case) was unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'they'.

  3. The contract for the solvent purifier, it will be finalized as soon as Mr. Kirkpatrick returns.

    Answer:
    The contract for the solvent purifier will be finalized as soon as Mr. Kirkpatrick returns.

    Feedback:
    The subject ('contract' in this case) was unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'it'.

  4. Regarding your complaint about the lifts, it will be investigated by our Estates Management Sub-group.

    Answer:
    Your complaint about the lifts will be investigated by our Estates Management Sub-group. OR Our Estates Management Sub-group will investigate your complaint about the lifts.

    Feedback:
    The subject ('complaint' in this case) was unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'it'.

  5. For me, I believe that reimbursement should be made through our Accounts Department.

    Answer:
    I believe that reimbursement should be made through our Accounts Department.

    Feedback:
    The subject ('I' in this case) is unnecessarily prefixed by the phrase for me. This could be a partial translation from Chinese to English and is incorrect in English.

  6. Concerning your internship, it was discussed favourably by your supervisors at the meeting.

    Answer:
    Your internship was discussed favourably by your supervisors at the meeting. OR Your supervisors favourably discussed your internship at the meeting.

    Feedback:
    The subject ('internship' in this case) was unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'it'. The structure "Concerning X, X ..." is also incorrect.

  7. For the university graduates, they felt that the training course was too easy, but for the Form 7 graduates, they found the course a bit demanding.

    Answer:
    The university graduates felt that the training course was too easy, but the Form 7 graduates found the course a bit demanding.

    Feedback:
    The subjects in both parts of the sentence ('university graduates' and 'Form 7 graduates' in this case) were both unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'they'. The for construction in the second part could be a partial translation from Chinese to English and is not used in English.

  8. The actual figures, they are displayed in the table below.

    Answer:
    The actual figures are displayed in the table below.

    Feedback:
    The subject ('figures' in this case) was unnecessarily repeated with the pronoun 'they'.