Use adverbs to change, not intensify, meaning Beware adverbs, counsels The Poynter Institute’s Roy Peter Clark. Too often, they dilute the meaning of the verb or repeat it: “The building was completely destroyed.” Instead, of using adverbs to intensify meaning, Clark suggests, use them to change meaning. “‘Killing Me Softly’?” he writes. “Good adverb. “‘Killing Me … [Read more...] about ‘Killing me softly’
Writing
So to speak
Colloquialisms make great headlines When copyeditors at The Oregonian needed a headline for a piece on car seat safety, they wrote: NO, YOU'RE NOT THERE YET New pediatric guidelines call for the little ones to stay in their safety seats a lot longer Searching for a good headline? Use a quote, colloquialism or sound bite. That's what these winners of the American Copy … [Read more...] about So to speak
Splitting headache
Are split infinitives still a grammar don't? It may be the most famous split infinitive of all time — Star Trek's opening-sequence voice over: "To boldly go where no man has gone before" That's a split infinitive, because the adverb "boldly" separates, or splits, the verb "to go." So, is that OK? Are split infinitives acceptable in modern English usage? Or does good … [Read more...] about Splitting headache
Give great verb | May 2010
“A story should be a verb, not a noun.” — Byron Dobell, former editor of Esquire and American Heritage 'Spank those naughty little oxidants' Creative communications from London London: How can I miss you if you won't let me go? After presenting a writing workshop for TELLABS UK and CCGroup last month, I was treated by a volcano to an extended stay in London. Although … [Read more...] about Give great verb | May 2010