Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

I wouldn't use 4 at all.

The one I like best (if we are voting) is 1.

I would tend to use 3 (with "On") rather than 2, but I think 2 is also
correct, as are 1 & 5. 5 sounds slightly different from the rest, but
it's hard to put my finger on the reason. It's almost as though 'seeing'
implies looking carefully at the picture, but 'The sight' implies that
if he catches a glimpse of the picture at a distance, he will still calm
down. That doesn't make much sense, although it works in other contexts.
For example, 'The sight of him neighbour angers him' meaning that it
takes no more than a glimpse of the neighbour to remind the person of
all the problems the neighbour has caused.

Cheryl

I agree with Cheryl that 1 is "best" and 4 "worst". Also with Bob G that
 "seeing" in 1 (and "the sight of" in 5) are unnecessary. 3 sounds like
usage from a medical/scientific report, or someone affecting a similar
distance - with "upon" lending more distance than "on".

Apteryx

Coming back to these two. Not perfect, but it seems acceptable to most
of you.

Now, in which of them is "seeing" more verb-like and in which is more
"noun-like/nominal?" I may have my own opinions, but I prefer to have
your input:-)

Thanks.
Marius Hancu