I've come across the formulation by one side, by other side instead of on the one hand/side and on the other hand/side. I strongly suspect this to be wrong and maybe Brazilian Portuguese originated, can you please confirm? (I only know the author comes from Rio, I don't speak Brazilian Portuguese).
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1It is not an idiom I'm familiar with in English. It does sound like a translation.– RobustoCommented Feb 9, 2015 at 12:05
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Yeah, it's not "familiar". I believe I've heard similar formulations a few times, though. Nothing really "wrong" with it, but it's not a common usage, and thus sounds a bit awkward.– Hot LicksCommented Feb 9, 2015 at 12:39
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Italian has the same expression "da un lato" = on one side. The appropriate English discourse marker is the one suggested by tchrist.– Mari-Lou ACommented Feb 9, 2015 at 13:34
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1 Answer
Those are not grammatical in English. They are inappropriate word-for-word translations of the common Portuguese phrases por um lado and por outro lado.
In idiomatic English they should respectively be on one hand and on the other hand.
The principal error derives from the Iberian habit of omitting determiners in front of their words for “other”, and the translator not realizing that. The secondary error is literally translating side where in English we use hand in the corresponding constructions.
