"But I want my sons to know that to challenge your country when it is wrong, to demand that it become more than it is, is as great an act of patriotism as the bravery of any soldier."
--from an essay "The Shoes of Dr. King" by Rosemary Bray McNatt
About author Rosemary Bray McNatt:
The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt is a Unitarian Universalist minister serving the Fourth Universalist Society in New York City. A former editor of "The New York Times Book Review," Rosemary is a widely anthologized writer whose work has appeared in a variety of magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, Ms., Glamour, Essence, Redbook, and The Village Voice. She is the author of several books, including the biography for children Martin Luther King, a memoir, Unafraid of the Dark, and the forthcoming Beloved One: Prayers for Black Children.
She is a contributing editor to UU World, the magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and chair of the Board of Trustees of Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, Calif., one of the continent’s two Unitarian Universalist seminaries. She and her husband Robert have two young sons.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Assume and Condescend
No one wants to assume or to condescend to readers. But those errors may actually arise from poor advice in business writing.
Probably you have heard the advice that "ASSUME makes an ASS of YOU and ME."
As a result, some writers believe that they should never use the phrase "I assume that...". Not true.
When I announce what I assume, I am no longer assuming it. Feel free to write out your assumptions and label them as such. That way, if the assumptions are false or incomplete, someone can correct them. The discussion can proceed intelligently.
Another example of poor advice comes from one of the CRISP workbooks for writers, called Better Business Writing. On its pages 24 and 40, it labels as condescending the phrases "of course," and "as you can see." Yet they are the opposite. These phrases acknowledge the writer's previous knowledge--a gesture that is not at all condescending. If you eliminate such phrases you actually do risk condescending.
Don't buy instruction that just repeats folklore.
Probably you have heard the advice that "ASSUME makes an ASS of YOU and ME."
As a result, some writers believe that they should never use the phrase "I assume that...". Not true.
When I announce what I assume, I am no longer assuming it. Feel free to write out your assumptions and label them as such. That way, if the assumptions are false or incomplete, someone can correct them. The discussion can proceed intelligently.
Another example of poor advice comes from one of the CRISP workbooks for writers, called Better Business Writing. On its pages 24 and 40, it labels as condescending the phrases "of course," and "as you can see." Yet they are the opposite. These phrases acknowledge the writer's previous knowledge--a gesture that is not at all condescending. If you eliminate such phrases you actually do risk condescending.
Don't buy instruction that just repeats folklore.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Shorter Sentences?
For years, I've taught that clear sentences can be long. They just need short subject-verb units.
I still believe those propositions are true.
But when I read from a computer screen, I want short sentences. I prefer they be in short
paragraphs.
Am I alone?
I was told in grad school that the average sentence is 21 words long. That statistic applied to English
sentences written for an adult. If this post had longer (average 21 words) sentences, would you read it as easily?
(In the post above, the average sentence length is 9.44 words.)
Flesch Reading Ease 79.1 (70 is ideal.)
Flesch Grade Level: 4.2
I still believe those propositions are true.
But when I read from a computer screen, I want short sentences. I prefer they be in short
paragraphs.
Am I alone?
I was told in grad school that the average sentence is 21 words long. That statistic applied to English
sentences written for an adult. If this post had longer (average 21 words) sentences, would you read it as easily?
(In the post above, the average sentence length is 9.44 words.)
Flesch Reading Ease 79.1 (70 is ideal.)
Flesch Grade Level: 4.2
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Oops. My bad.
In a recent post, I wrote the following:
ostentatious or ingratiating - These adjectives mean "subservient." I switched to "subservient" because today, more people know or can deduce what "subservient" means.
Yikes. I wrote "ostentatious" when I meant "obsequious."
I need to follow my own advice and proofread two or three times. For this correction, my thanks go to keen editor Julie Landry (landrywriter@yahoo.com).
ostentatious or ingratiating - These adjectives mean "subservient." I switched to "subservient" because today, more people know or can deduce what "subservient" means.
Yikes. I wrote "ostentatious" when I meant "obsequious."
I need to follow my own advice and proofread two or three times. For this correction, my thanks go to keen editor Julie Landry (landrywriter@yahoo.com).
Science Should Not Confuse You
Most people want to understand global warming. To that end, a government agency wrote a website that answered frequently asked questions.
Here is one question, with its answer.
Is the hydrological cycle (evaporation and precipitation) changing?
Overall, land precipitation for the globe has increased by about 2% since 1900, however, precipitation changes have been spatially variable over the last century. Instrumental records show that there has been a general increase in precipitation of about 0.5-1.0%/decade over land in northern mid-high latitudes, except in parts of eastern Russia. However, a decrease of about -0.3%/decade in precipitation has occurred during the 20th century over land in sub-tropical latitudes, though this trend has weakened in recent decades. Due to the difficulty in measuring precipitation, it has been important to constrain these observations by analyzing other, related variables. The measured changes in precipitation are consistent with observed changes in streamflow, lake levels, and soil moisture (where data are available and have been analyzed).
Flesch Reading Ease 13.8 (ideal is 70)
To translate that answer, I used the principles of clear sentences.
Is the hydrological cycle (evaporation and precipitation) changing?
Globally, land precipitation has increased by about 2% since 1900. However, in that time, precipitation changes have varied spatially. For example, over most land in northern mid-high latitudes, precipitation has increased about 0.5% to 1.0% per decade. (The exceptions were parts of eastern Russia.) At the same time, over land in subtropical latitudes, precipitation has decreased by 0.3% per decade. (This trend toward decrease has weakened in recent decades.) Because precipitation is hard to measure, scientists checked these figures against observed changes in streamflow, lake levels, and soil moisture. Where scientists have gleaned and analyzed those data, the results confirmed their precipitation numbers. In general, precipitation seems to be increasing in some northern latitudes and decreasing slightly in subtropical areas.
Flesch Reading Ease 30.5 (ideal is 70)
Here is one question, with its answer.
Is the hydrological cycle (evaporation and precipitation) changing?
Overall, land precipitation for the globe has increased by about 2% since 1900, however, precipitation changes have been spatially variable over the last century. Instrumental records show that there has been a general increase in precipitation of about 0.5-1.0%/decade over land in northern mid-high latitudes, except in parts of eastern Russia. However, a decrease of about -0.3%/decade in precipitation has occurred during the 20th century over land in sub-tropical latitudes, though this trend has weakened in recent decades. Due to the difficulty in measuring precipitation, it has been important to constrain these observations by analyzing other, related variables. The measured changes in precipitation are consistent with observed changes in streamflow, lake levels, and soil moisture (where data are available and have been analyzed).
Flesch Reading Ease 13.8 (ideal is 70)
To translate that answer, I used the principles of clear sentences.
Is the hydrological cycle (evaporation and precipitation) changing?
Globally, land precipitation has increased by about 2% since 1900. However, in that time, precipitation changes have varied spatially. For example, over most land in northern mid-high latitudes, precipitation has increased about 0.5% to 1.0% per decade. (The exceptions were parts of eastern Russia.) At the same time, over land in subtropical latitudes, precipitation has decreased by 0.3% per decade. (This trend toward decrease has weakened in recent decades.) Because precipitation is hard to measure, scientists checked these figures against observed changes in streamflow, lake levels, and soil moisture. Where scientists have gleaned and analyzed those data, the results confirmed their precipitation numbers. In general, precipitation seems to be increasing in some northern latitudes and decreasing slightly in subtropical areas.
Flesch Reading Ease 30.5 (ideal is 70)
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Dr. Danielle S. Allen
Dr. Danielle S. Allen, currently of the University of Chicago, writes about "rhetoric," usually known as manipulative or persuasive language. She redefines it as "the art of talking to strangers as equals" and "the art of generating trust."
"Properly understood, rhetoric is not a list of stylistic rules but an outline of the radical commitment to other citizens that is needed for a just democratic politics."
These quotes are from Dr. Allen's 2004 book _Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship since Brown versus Board of Education_. In that book she draws deeply not only from Greek and Renaissance classics, but from the splendid tradition of African American social thought, translating that thought into a program by which all Americans might come together as what she calls "political friends."
We need your program, Dr. Allen. I'm listening. And thank you.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Writing for Science and Engineering
Today, scientists and engineers know they must communicate well. They are not content with yesterday's rambling discussions or Power Point templates. To help each other, scientists from top U.S. schools such as Georgia Tech, Pitt, Vermont, and Virginia Tech have collaborated on this site:
http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/index.html
The site explains, step by step, how to handle the many facets of science writing: audiences, formats, style, slides, posters, references, etc. It includes guidelines, examples, and interactive exercises.
Some of its didactic pages are poorly formatted (as vast blocks of text). However, the links bring you to examples of every science genre, from the memo and letter to the slide presentation or the poster. Links also lead to excellent articles about the latest in designing information for scientists and engineers, including a better slide design than the defaults offered by Power Point.
Want to skip the theory and go to the skills? Proceed directly to the "exercises" page:
http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/exercises/index.html
http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/index.html
The site explains, step by step, how to handle the many facets of science writing: audiences, formats, style, slides, posters, references, etc. It includes guidelines, examples, and interactive exercises.
Some of its didactic pages are poorly formatted (as vast blocks of text). However, the links bring you to examples of every science genre, from the memo and letter to the slide presentation or the poster. Links also lead to excellent articles about the latest in designing information for scientists and engineers, including a better slide design than the defaults offered by Power Point.
Want to skip the theory and go to the skills? Proceed directly to the "exercises" page:
http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/exercises/index.html
Monday, November 06, 2006
A "However" Sandwich
Too often I see sentences mispunctuated like these:
1. WRONG He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting, however, he found a seat and listened attentively.
2. WRONG He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting, however he found a seat and listened attentively.
Each of these sentences consists of an independent clause, then the conjunction “however,” and then another independent clause.
When “however” is sandwiched between two independent clauses, it requires a semicolon either before or after it.
Why?
In the following passage, from (House & Garden magazine, March 1991, p. 28), notice the second sentence:
3. “My work is like a diary,” Picasso told me, and I have taken him up on this. One has to tread carefully, however. Diaries are nonetheless interesting for embroidering upon the truth. --John Richardson
The second sentence ends, quite correctly, with “however.” “However” is one of the conjunctions that may either begin or end its clause.
If “however” appears between two independent clauses, the reader needs to know whether it ends the first clause or begins the second one. This information is provided by the semicolon:
4. He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting; however, he found a seat and listened attentively.
Of course, it is also correct to split that sentence into two:
5. He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting. However, he found a seat and listened attentively.
1. WRONG He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting, however, he found a seat and listened attentively.
2. WRONG He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting, however he found a seat and listened attentively.
Each of these sentences consists of an independent clause, then the conjunction “however,” and then another independent clause.
When “however” is sandwiched between two independent clauses, it requires a semicolon either before or after it.
Why?
In the following passage, from (House & Garden magazine, March 1991, p. 28), notice the second sentence:
3. “My work is like a diary,” Picasso told me, and I have taken him up on this. One has to tread carefully, however. Diaries are nonetheless interesting for embroidering upon the truth. --John Richardson
The second sentence ends, quite correctly, with “however.” “However” is one of the conjunctions that may either begin or end its clause.
If “however” appears between two independent clauses, the reader needs to know whether it ends the first clause or begins the second one. This information is provided by the semicolon:
4. He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting; however, he found a seat and listened attentively.
Of course, it is also correct to split that sentence into two:
5. He arrived at the auditorium 14 minutes after the start of the meeting. However, he found a seat and listened attentively.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Numbers about Words
180,000 - Word entries in Britain's classic Oxford English Dictionary
15.7 million - Citations (showing words used in printed sources) on which is based the U.S. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition)
50,000 - Words in a vocabulary that would enable one to read the New York Times
350 to 500 - Words per minute that the average person (presumably U.S. English speaker) can read
100 to 175 - Words per minute the average U.S. English speaker can speak
70 - Desirable readability score as tested by Flesch Reading Ease (available in Microsoft Word)
sources: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary; The Business of Listening by K.G. Nichols (1956); www.ukoln.ac/uk/nof/suport/help/papers/writing-web
15.7 million - Citations (showing words used in printed sources) on which is based the U.S. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition)
50,000 - Words in a vocabulary that would enable one to read the New York Times
350 to 500 - Words per minute that the average person (presumably U.S. English speaker) can read
100 to 175 - Words per minute the average U.S. English speaker can speak
70 - Desirable readability score as tested by Flesch Reading Ease (available in Microsoft Word)
sources: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary; The Business of Listening by K.G. Nichols (1956); www.ukoln.ac/uk/nof/suport/help/papers/writing-web
Monday, October 09, 2006
Noodlebib Software
My sister just told me about a new version of the simple reference-making software called Noodlebib.
Here's how Noodlebib began. Mom was a librarian; son was a computer whiz. They collaborated and created a program that lets even young writers create citations and bibliographies easily. It works for APA or MLA style. There's a free version. The newest deluxe version ($8/year) even enables users to write and organize notecards--virtual or printed.
Here's their website: www.noodletools.com
Here's their blurb:
"At NoodleTools, we create innovative software that teaches students and supports teachers and librarians throughout the entire research process. Search intelligently. Assess the quality of results. Record, organize and synthesize information using online notecards. Format your bibliography in MLA or APA style."
I'm buying Noodlebib for my high school freshman. I'll let you know how it works out.
Here's how Noodlebib began. Mom was a librarian; son was a computer whiz. They collaborated and created a program that lets even young writers create citations and bibliographies easily. It works for APA or MLA style. There's a free version. The newest deluxe version ($8/year) even enables users to write and organize notecards--virtual or printed.
Here's their website: www.noodletools.com
Here's their blurb:
"At NoodleTools, we create innovative software that teaches students and supports teachers and librarians throughout the entire research process. Search intelligently. Assess the quality of results. Record, organize and synthesize information using online notecards. Format your bibliography in MLA or APA style."
I'm buying Noodlebib for my high school freshman. I'll let you know how it works out.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
E-mail Reconsidered
Be polite. It could save your reptuation.
For centuries, English letter-writers used flowery phrases such as "My dear Mister Pecksniff" and "Your most humble and obedient servant." We smile at such ingratiating phrases, versions of which are still used in some European correspondence. But did our ancestors know something we don't?
Today's e-mail evolved after the 1970s, when scientists (mostly male) messaged each other with regard to government and other research. Because males avoided typing classes, most of them approached a keyboard with two fingers. In addition, they had little need to ingratiate themselves with their correspondent. Thus arose both smilies and the cryptic style that the rest of us imitated.
But all written messages arrive stripped of tone, gesture, timing, and interactivity. The message may have been written in haste and constitute the utilitarian minimum of denotation. I propose (I have no proof) that readers see an e-mail as a sort of verbal inkblot. On this minimal stimulus, the reader imposes an often unconscious "spin." Thus the reader may read offense where none was intended. (The famous case of the all-capital "screamed" message is only one instance.)
Equally problematic in business, the writer may use the minimal stimulus of email to convey intended insult and then deny it.
In short, e-mail is a minefield. You may not be Bob's most obedient servant; but an extra "thank you" or "what do you think?" can protect you from unintentional harm.
For centuries, English letter-writers used flowery phrases such as "My dear Mister Pecksniff" and "Your most humble and obedient servant." We smile at such ingratiating phrases, versions of which are still used in some European correspondence. But did our ancestors know something we don't?
Today's e-mail evolved after the 1970s, when scientists (mostly male) messaged each other with regard to government and other research. Because males avoided typing classes, most of them approached a keyboard with two fingers. In addition, they had little need to ingratiate themselves with their correspondent. Thus arose both smilies and the cryptic style that the rest of us imitated.
But all written messages arrive stripped of tone, gesture, timing, and interactivity. The message may have been written in haste and constitute the utilitarian minimum of denotation. I propose (I have no proof) that readers see an e-mail as a sort of verbal inkblot. On this minimal stimulus, the reader imposes an often unconscious "spin." Thus the reader may read offense where none was intended. (The famous case of the all-capital "screamed" message is only one instance.)
Equally problematic in business, the writer may use the minimal stimulus of email to convey intended insult and then deny it.
In short, e-mail is a minefield. You may not be Bob's most obedient servant; but an extra "thank you" or "what do you think?" can protect you from unintentional harm.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Errors
Here are a few homophone (sound-alike) and look-alike errors that I've noticed
recently.
The export company was found guilty of flaunting [proudly displaying??] tax laws.
Should be
The export company was found guilty of flouting [willfully disobeying] tax laws.
Acme Services has a full compliment [praise??] of print, finishing, and related services.
Should be
Acme Services has a full complement [array or supply] of print, finishing, and related services.
The nation's strict hierarchy mitigates [softens??] against free expression.
Should be
The nation's strict hierarchy militates [has weight or effect in a conflict] against free expression.
That’s a mute [soundless??] point.
Should be
That’s a moot point.
[Moot (noun) means a group that deliberates. There is a verb “moot,” and it means to bring up for debate.]
Place the butter in the hallowed-out [made holy??] center of the flour.
Should be
Place the butter in the hollowed-out center of the flour.
Your neighbors are leaching [percolating out??] off your wireless Internet connection.
Should be
Your neighbors are leeching [sucking from a host, as a leech does] off your wireless Internet connection.
The therapist tried to illicit [unlawful??] the reasons for the client’s anger.
Should be
The therapist tried to elicit the reasons for the client’s anger.
recently.
The export company was found guilty of flaunting [proudly displaying??] tax laws.
Should be
The export company was found guilty of flouting [willfully disobeying] tax laws.
Acme Services has a full compliment [praise??] of print, finishing, and related services.
Should be
Acme Services has a full complement [array or supply] of print, finishing, and related services.
The nation's strict hierarchy mitigates [softens??] against free expression.
Should be
The nation's strict hierarchy militates [has weight or effect in a conflict] against free expression.
That’s a mute [soundless??] point.
Should be
That’s a moot point.
[Moot (noun) means a group that deliberates. There is a verb “moot,” and it means to bring up for debate.]
Place the butter in the hallowed-out [made holy??] center of the flour.
Should be
Place the butter in the hollowed-out center of the flour.
Your neighbors are leaching [percolating out??] off your wireless Internet connection.
Should be
Your neighbors are leeching [sucking from a host, as a leech does] off your wireless Internet connection.
The therapist tried to illicit [unlawful??] the reasons for the client’s anger.
Should be
The therapist tried to elicit the reasons for the client’s anger.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Verbs: To Make Things Better
Besides cheer, uplift, brighten, encourage, and rekindle, here are a few verbs that convey improvement. Each is derived from the concept in the word or phrase that immediately follows it. Its meaning is then defined and exemplified.
verb - derivation; definitition (example)
allay – subdue; make less intense, relieve (allay fears)
alleviate – lighten; make more bearable (alleviate pain)
assuage, – sweeten; ease, make less intense (assuage loneliness)
extenuate – thin out; lessen seriousness with partial excuses (extenuate guilt)
lighten – lessen weight; remove some pressure (lighten a burden)
mitigate – soften; cause to become less harsh (mitigate punishment)
palliate – cloak; relieve a symptom but not the underlying disorder (to give palliative care)
relieve – raise; free from a burden
verb - derivation; definitition (example)
allay – subdue; make less intense, relieve (allay fears)
alleviate – lighten; make more bearable (alleviate pain)
assuage, – sweeten; ease, make less intense (assuage loneliness)
extenuate – thin out; lessen seriousness with partial excuses (extenuate guilt)
lighten – lessen weight; remove some pressure (lighten a burden)
mitigate – soften; cause to become less harsh (mitigate punishment)
palliate – cloak; relieve a symptom but not the underlying disorder (to give palliative care)
relieve – raise; free from a burden
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Eight Parts of Speech
Look to the right and you will see a new link: Online Adult Grammar Book. Its title is
Traditional English Grammar: Description and Use, by Donald E. Hardy
This interactive book seems reasonably arranged and appropriately advanced for adults, although the first quiz seems far too advanced.
The book, like most grammars, starts by explaining the eight "parts of speech," which are the functional categories of English words. But the chapter has not eight, but nine sections.
As soon as the author has explained nouns, he digresses to discuss "frames." These are not parts of speech, but the word's neighbors in the sentence. Without knowing a word's frame, you cannot tell its function. Personally, I think it's great that the eight functions are introduced along with the idea of "frame."
This online grammar goes from NOUNS and FRAMES to
PRONOUNS
VERBS
ADJECTIVES
ADVERBS
PREPOSITIONS
CONJUNCTIONS
and
INTERJECTIONS
My problem? The very first quiz question in this book asks readers to identify a pronoun's person, number, and case. Yet at this point, the book has not, as far as I can see, mentioned terms such as second person or accusative.
I am puzzled, but will continue to work through Hardy's book so that I can review it for you more thoroughly. Watch this space, as they say.
Flesch Reading Ease 73.6
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 6.5
Traditional English Grammar: Description and Use, by Donald E. Hardy
This interactive book seems reasonably arranged and appropriately advanced for adults, although the first quiz seems far too advanced.
The book, like most grammars, starts by explaining the eight "parts of speech," which are the functional categories of English words. But the chapter has not eight, but nine sections.
As soon as the author has explained nouns, he digresses to discuss "frames." These are not parts of speech, but the word's neighbors in the sentence. Without knowing a word's frame, you cannot tell its function. Personally, I think it's great that the eight functions are introduced along with the idea of "frame."
This online grammar goes from NOUNS and FRAMES to
PRONOUNS
VERBS
ADJECTIVES
ADVERBS
PREPOSITIONS
CONJUNCTIONS
and
INTERJECTIONS
My problem? The very first quiz question in this book asks readers to identify a pronoun's person, number, and case. Yet at this point, the book has not, as far as I can see, mentioned terms such as second person or accusative.
I am puzzled, but will continue to work through Hardy's book so that I can review it for you more thoroughly. Watch this space, as they say.
Flesch Reading Ease 73.6
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 6.5
Friday, July 07, 2006
Pronunciations I Never Knew
At the back of the Gregg Reference Manual, 9th edition, is an appendix of pronunciation problems. Some of its entries surprised me:
angina - "Medical professionals pronounce this ANN-jinn-uh. Others typically say an-JYE-nuh."
applicable - Gregg says to put the accent on the first syllable: A-plih-kuh-bul.
Celtic - The language is KELL-tick. The Boston team is SELL-tick.
conch - This is a seashell and is pronounced KONK.
corps - We all know that the singular is KAWR. The plural is pronounced KAWRZ but spelled "corps."
data - Gregg's pronounces this word DAY-tuh. Lots of people are going to disagree.
Metairie, city in Louisiana - Accent the first syllable: MET-uh-ree.
Natchitoches, city in Louisiana - Again, accent the first syllable: NACK-kuh-tish.
Well, I could go on. But here's one that isn't in Gregg's and used to trip me up:
Oaxaca, place in Mexico, is pronounced wuh-HAH-kuh.
angina - "Medical professionals pronounce this ANN-jinn-uh. Others typically say an-JYE-nuh."
applicable - Gregg says to put the accent on the first syllable: A-plih-kuh-bul.
Celtic - The language is KELL-tick. The Boston team is SELL-tick.
conch - This is a seashell and is pronounced KONK.
corps - We all know that the singular is KAWR. The plural is pronounced KAWRZ but spelled "corps."
data - Gregg's pronounces this word DAY-tuh. Lots of people are going to disagree.
Metairie, city in Louisiana - Accent the first syllable: MET-uh-ree.
Natchitoches, city in Louisiana - Again, accent the first syllable: NACK-kuh-tish.
Well, I could go on. But here's one that isn't in Gregg's and used to trip me up:
Oaxaca, place in Mexico, is pronounced wuh-HAH-kuh.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Vocabulary and Gender
Does English have male words and female words? Sociolinguists say that women in the U.S. know more words for color than do men. Can you define these color words:
scarlet
vermilion
carmine
crimson
puce
viridian
ecru
chartreuse
Probably men are better able to define words relating to sports and military life:
piker
redoubt
tactical
tight end
fourflusher
Another factor in vocabulary is age. My elementary-school friends taught me
words not found (yet) in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary:
crunk
noob
dratchey
emo
scarlet
vermilion
carmine
crimson
puce
viridian
ecru
chartreuse
Probably men are better able to define words relating to sports and military life:
piker
redoubt
tactical
tight end
fourflusher
Another factor in vocabulary is age. My elementary-school friends taught me
words not found (yet) in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary:
crunk
noob
dratchey
emo
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
E-Feelings
Do not e-mail a potentially emotional message.
That is the advice I got from a corporate manager, and she speaks from experience.
Furthermore, researchers recently discovered how easily, in an e-mail, even mundane remarks can be misinterpreted. College students sent e-mail messages about weather and cafeteria food to friends, and expected misinterpretations of the messages' emotional content only about 22% of the time. Instead, respondents invested the messages with unintended emotional meanings 44% of the time (Kruger & Epley, J Pers & Soc Psych, December 2005).
Emoticons or smilies are outdated. Few of us still use IMHO (in my humble opinion) or FWIW (for what it's worth). But old-fashioned courtesies remain. Perhaps we might bring back the "warm regards" and "thank you so much" of earlier eras. And if the message is emotional, let's avoid e-mail and use telephone or face-to-face contact.
At least, that's my humble opinion.
That is the advice I got from a corporate manager, and she speaks from experience.
Furthermore, researchers recently discovered how easily, in an e-mail, even mundane remarks can be misinterpreted. College students sent e-mail messages about weather and cafeteria food to friends, and expected misinterpretations of the messages' emotional content only about 22% of the time. Instead, respondents invested the messages with unintended emotional meanings 44% of the time (Kruger & Epley, J Pers & Soc Psych, December 2005).
Emoticons or smilies are outdated. Few of us still use IMHO (in my humble opinion) or FWIW (for what it's worth). But old-fashioned courtesies remain. Perhaps we might bring back the "warm regards" and "thank you so much" of earlier eras. And if the message is emotional, let's avoid e-mail and use telephone or face-to-face contact.
At least, that's my humble opinion.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Verbs
To build a better vocabulary, I concentrate first on learning verbs. Specifically, I move verbs from my passive vocabulary (I understand them) to my active vocabulary (I use them appropriately and readily). Here are a few verbs from my recent reading:
doff Jim doffed his disguise and we saw the real man.
abstain The CEO wanted to protest, but wisely she abstained [or refrained] from speaking in haste.
I would have liked a martini, but that night I was abstaining.
recant Mary once believed in unbridled capitalism, but she has since recanted.
sate It seems that no amount of music can thoroughly sate America's demand.
rebuff Acme offered $15 million, but Standard Widgets rebuffed that offer.
ascribe I know the report came from Brad, but insiders ascribe its recommendations to Brad's deputy, Sara.
engross Numbers engross her; that is why she is pursuing a degree in accounting.
amplify He summarized the report on the phone, but a longer e-mail will amplify that summary.
augment I will augment the evening's menu by bringing a basket of fruit and some French pastry.
expound He announced his plan, and then he expounded it. Could you expound on that observation?
Flesch Readability: 57.3 Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 8.3
doff Jim doffed his disguise and we saw the real man.
abstain The CEO wanted to protest, but wisely she abstained [or refrained] from speaking in haste.
I would have liked a martini, but that night I was abstaining.
recant Mary once believed in unbridled capitalism, but she has since recanted.
sate It seems that no amount of music can thoroughly sate America's demand.
rebuff Acme offered $15 million, but Standard Widgets rebuffed that offer.
ascribe I know the report came from Brad, but insiders ascribe its recommendations to Brad's deputy, Sara.
engross Numbers engross her; that is why she is pursuing a degree in accounting.
amplify He summarized the report on the phone, but a longer e-mail will amplify that summary.
augment I will augment the evening's menu by bringing a basket of fruit and some French pastry.
expound He announced his plan, and then he expounded it. Could you expound on that observation?
Flesch Readability: 57.3 Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 8.3
Monday, May 01, 2006
Adjectives: More Perplexing, Most Perplexing
One-syllable adjectives usually form their comparatives by adding –er and superlatives by adding –est. Of course, there are irregular adjectives such as good, better, and best. But wrong, wronger, wrongest?
Three-syllable adjectives usually require “more” and “most.” Examples: transparent, more transparent, most transparent.
But some two-syllable adjectives are written both ways. The Gregg Reference Manual (9th edition, 2001) advises us to avoid some –er and –est forms: “your ear will tell you when.” In other words, we are on our own, and may heaven pity the foreigner.
What do you think of each of these?
1. Activer activest
2. Frugaler frugalest
3. Commoner commonest
4. Simpler simplest
5. Yellower yellowest
6. Purpler purplest
7. Oranger organgest
8. Worthier worthiest
9. Silverer silverest
10. Disturbeder disturbedest
Three-syllable adjectives usually require “more” and “most.” Examples: transparent, more transparent, most transparent.
But some two-syllable adjectives are written both ways. The Gregg Reference Manual (9th edition, 2001) advises us to avoid some –er and –est forms: “your ear will tell you when.” In other words, we are on our own, and may heaven pity the foreigner.
What do you think of each of these?
1. Activer activest
2. Frugaler frugalest
3. Commoner commonest
4. Simpler simplest
5. Yellower yellowest
6. Purpler purplest
7. Oranger organgest
8. Worthier worthiest
9. Silverer silverest
10. Disturbeder disturbedest
Monday, April 24, 2006
Gasoline for clearly smoother acceleration
You couldn’t ignore this billboard. It loomed over an expressway entrance where it assaulted millions of drivers each week.
First you saw the phrase:
“Gasoline for clearly smoother acceleration”
And in small print, you saw the sentence:
“Only Amoco Ultimate ® is crystal clear.”
What have these advertisers actually promised?
If an idea isn’t in a sentence (that is, with subject and predicate), they haven’t promised you anything. But when advertisers use enticing phrases, you may believe that they have.
So I think that advertising is worth analyzing. Such analysis has been called, by my friend Frank Pope, “forensic grammar.” There is, in fact, a field called "forensic linguistics."
It starts, in my opinion, with recognizing a sentence. That's a skill we should all teach our children--for their own protection.
Flesch Reading Ease: 61.6
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.1
First you saw the phrase:
“Gasoline for clearly smoother acceleration”
And in small print, you saw the sentence:
“Only Amoco Ultimate ® is crystal clear.”
What have these advertisers actually promised?
If an idea isn’t in a sentence (that is, with subject and predicate), they haven’t promised you anything. But when advertisers use enticing phrases, you may believe that they have.
So I think that advertising is worth analyzing. Such analysis has been called, by my friend Frank Pope, “forensic grammar.” There is, in fact, a field called "forensic linguistics."
It starts, in my opinion, with recognizing a sentence. That's a skill we should all teach our children--for their own protection.
Flesch Reading Ease: 61.6
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.1
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