Comments on: Rules for Writers http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/422 communications from an eco-anarcha-feminist animal Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:26:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Beverly Lynch http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/422#comment-4666 Beverly Lynch Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:47:40 +0000 http://pattricejones.info/blog/?p=422#comment-4666 I work at reducing unecessary words in my writing. Some people complain that my descriptions are too short. Others are only impressed with florid, bombastic styles. Those styles are useful in humor and satire. as to the this land is my land song; I saved my money to buy four acres in 1974. A visiting leftist told me it was a beautiful spot and when the revolution came , they would take it away from me. Recently the state bought some of it for an unecessary road. I believe I take better care of my land than the state or everybody or nobody would. Imagine growing a garden and having to share the produce with everyone who came along. The gardener would work for nothing and many people would trample on the plants. private property is essential. I work at reducing unecessary words in my writing. Some people complain that my descriptions are too short. Others are only impressed with florid, bombastic styles. Those styles are useful in humor and satire.
as to the this land is my land song; I saved my money to buy four acres in 1974. A visiting leftist told me it was a beautiful spot and when the revolution came , they would take it away from me. Recently the state bought some of it for an unecessary road. I believe I take better care of my land than the state or everybody or nobody would. Imagine growing a garden and having to share the produce with everyone who came along. The gardener would work for nothing and many people would trample on the plants. private property is essential.

]]> By: pattrice http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/422#comment-4558 pattrice Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:26:00 +0000 http://pattricejones.info/blog/?p=422#comment-4558 I think the ban on foreign phrases <i>unless absolutely necessary</i> is meant to increase accessibility and decrease show-offishness. As for <i>Deus ex machina</i>, that's got a pretty precise meaning as a literary device with a precise history dating back to its use in Greek drama. I'd be inclined to use it only when writing about literature, to explain it if some of my readers aren't likely to know it, and to think twice before tossing it into a conversation (on paper or otherwise) where all the participants aren't likely to know it. I think that's all Orwell wants us to do: Think twice. Sometimes, that foreign phrase is going to be just right. More often, there will be a more original and inclusive way to say what you mean. Doing the work of thinking twice is, over the long run, likely to improve the depth and clarity of your own thought. I think the ban on foreign phrases unless absolutely necessary is meant to increase accessibility and decrease show-offishness. As for Deus ex machina, that’s got a pretty precise meaning as a literary device with a precise history dating back to its use in Greek drama. I’d be inclined to use it only when writing about literature, to explain it if some of my readers aren’t likely to know it, and to think twice before tossing it into a conversation (on paper or otherwise) where all the participants aren’t likely to know it. I think that’s all Orwell wants us to do: Think twice. Sometimes, that foreign phrase is going to be just right. More often, there will be a more original and inclusive way to say what you mean. Doing the work of thinking twice is, over the long run, likely to improve the depth and clarity of your own thought.

]]> By: Chris http://pattricejones.info/blog/archives/422#comment-4554 Chris Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:52:39 +0000 http://pattricejones.info/blog/?p=422#comment-4554 I'm sad about the interdiction against "militate against" and "ameliorate," both of which I seem to use frequently. Also, why such vitriol (not yours, his) against foreign phrases? Many of the alien-sounding words we use have actually been around for a long time in English, and do a very good job of evoking a specific image. Deus ex machina, for instance, does not have a succinct Saxon equivalent. I believe strongly in the power of writing well in the ways described here, but I also want to celebrate the endless flexibility of English, a characteristic many other languages lack. Orwell is probably right though; my entire writing career, I've been advised to write more clearly (read: less bombastically) and to forgo the long, tortuous phrases that sounds academic, but are actually clever disguises for not having much to say. Much like the preceeding sentence, in fact. It's easy to rely on cliches, though, especially if they're widely known and can quickly convey an idea. It certainly speaks better of a writer to invent new ways to re-dress old ideas, but, if you're anything like me, attempting to be creative can produce jarringly over-poetic thoughts that sound worse than the old stand-bys. Except for a few points, I can't disagree with much of what you've written/reported here. It's certainly interesting to suss out the lazier portions of my own writing. I don't know if I'll every be able to truly reform my ways. Quel nul, I am. I’m sad about the interdiction against “militate against” and “ameliorate,” both of which I seem to use frequently. Also, why such vitriol (not yours, his) against foreign phrases? Many of the alien-sounding words we use have actually been around for a long time in English, and do a very good job of evoking a specific image. Deus ex machina, for instance, does not have a succinct Saxon equivalent. I believe strongly in the power of writing well in the ways described here, but I also want to celebrate the endless flexibility of English, a characteristic many other languages lack.

Orwell is probably right though; my entire writing career, I’ve been advised to write more clearly (read: less bombastically) and to forgo the long, tortuous phrases that sounds academic, but are actually clever disguises for not having much to say. Much like the preceeding sentence, in fact.

It’s easy to rely on cliches, though, especially if they’re widely known and can quickly convey an idea. It certainly speaks better of a writer to invent new ways to re-dress old ideas, but, if you’re anything like me, attempting to be creative can produce jarringly over-poetic thoughts that sound worse than the old stand-bys.

Except for a few points, I can’t disagree with much of what you’ve written/reported here. It’s certainly interesting to suss out the lazier portions of my own writing. I don’t know if I’ll every be able to truly reform my ways. Quel nul, I am.

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