Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

I'm writing a motivational piece of text and I'd like to write the following:

The human body will work until the last _____ of oxygen is depleted.

I'm not sure what would be the proper measure for oxygen. I don't want drop of oxygen, because I'm using that later for drop of blood.

share|improve this question
1  
This question can be improved by adding the references you checked before asking, what you found, and why the results were inadequate. Please check the faq for more on basic site etiquette. – MετάEd Sep 13 '12 at 12:50
It's difficult to google for an answer like this, when you're supposed to be googling a word you don't know, right? – Richard Rodriguez Sep 13 '12 at 12:52
1  
Are you asking in a medical, sports, metaphoric or other context? – bib Sep 13 '12 at 13:02
2  
For creative suggestions, you should try writersSE. Voting to close as not a real question: likely to lead to a debate. – Kris Sep 13 '12 at 13:22
2  
In geek speak: molecule, atom, mole. In poetic speech: vestige, trace, wisp. In clueless speech: gallon, piece, school. – Mitch Sep 13 '12 at 15:21
show 5 more comments

8 Answers

up vote 6 down vote

I would consider "the last ounce of oxygen". It has a pleasant alliteration and among its definitions is "a small amount". Although it may not lend itself well to literal interpretation, it sounds like that's not the intent here.

share|improve this answer
Or "milliliter of oxygen" if you're not an American, I suppose. – Jay Sep 13 '12 at 14:16
1  
@Jay Then you lose the mellifluousness! Although I like the consonance in "milliliter" on its own. – Zairja Sep 13 '12 at 14:24
up vote 4 down vote

I'll put my money on "molecule".

But I don't know if this statement would actually be true... ;)

share|improve this answer
1  
It wouldn't be. But that doesn't make it sound any less cool. – rsegal Sep 13 '12 at 13:35
Any more than it would be true to say "last drop of blood". Both are, perhaps, a poetic exaggeration, depending on the context. – Jay Sep 13 '12 at 14:09
up vote 4 down vote

How about:

The human body will work until the last breath of oxygen is depleted.

I like that wording partly because that's how oxygen is brought into the body, generally speaking. Moreover, the word breath is sometimes used figuratively as well (as in breath of fresh air, or breath of a scandal, e.g.), so you needn't be overly concerned about using the word to mean a small, indeterminate amount, because there's precedent for that.

So, you wouldn't necessarily be referring to a literal last breath of oxygen – but you're not referring to a literal last drop of blood, either, so I assume that wouldn't be a problem.

share|improve this answer
up vote 2 down vote

The statement is not factually correct unless the measure is 'the minimum amount needed to function'. So something like gasp would be best:

"... will work until the last gasp of oxygen ...".

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

I wouldn't use work, but function for this kind of sentence; I also would work around the issue with a more generic:

The human body will continue to function as long as there is enough oxygen available.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

If you mean that breathing has stopped and it's using up oxygen in the system then you would normally say "the last reserves of oxygen"

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

Blood oxygen is measured as a percentage of saturation. This is a good explanation.

So if you don't mind sounding overly technical, I suppose you could say:

The human body will work until the last percentage of oxygen is depleted.

The human body will work until its blood oxygen saturation drops to 0%.

The human body will work until its blood oxygen level drops to 0%.

Or you could say,"The human body will work until the last atom of oxygen is depleted."

(The body might actually quit working at a much higher percentage than 0%, but I'll leave that to you to ferret out.)

share|improve this answer
The OP did ask about the "proper measure for oxygen." – JLG Sep 13 '12 at 13:52
1  
This is good if the writer wants to make a technical statement, like "body will function until the blood oxygen levels falls below 6%" (or whatever the number is -- I just made that number up). But I think from the phrasing of the question he's looking for a less-technical wording. "This diet forces me to count every calorie I eat" has a rather different tone then "This diet requires me to measure the food I eat with an accuracy of at least plus or minus two ounces." – Jay Sep 13 '12 at 14:16
“...until the last atom of oxygen...” works as hyperbole, but molecule is more accurate, as it is O_2 that binds to hemoglobin, rather than O. – jwpat7 Sep 13 '12 at 18:28
up vote 0 down vote

I would go with 'whiff of oxygen'

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.