Practical Grammar and Composition Part 57

The thief _took to his heels_.

196. CHOICE OF WORDS. The words in which a thought is expressed may not offend against good use, and yet still be objectionable because they do not accurately and appropriately express the thought. One should choose not merely a word that will approximately express the thought, but the one word that best expresses it. The following suggestions are given to aid in the choice of words:

1. CHOOSE SIMPLE ENGLISH WORDS and avoid what is called "fine writing."

Young writers and newspaper writers are greatly given to this offense of fine or bombastic writing. Examples:

FINE WRITING SIMPLE STYLE Was launched into eternity Was hanged Disastrous conflagration Great fire Called into requisition the services Sent for the doctor of the family physician Was accorded an ovation Was applauded Palatial mansion Comfortable house Acute auricular perceptions Sharp ears A disciple of Izaak Walton A fisherman

2. DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GENERAL AND SPECIFIC TERMS. In some cases general words may be used to advantage, but more often specific words should be used, since they call to the mind a definite image.

Compare these sentences:

The _high color_ of his face showed his embarra.s.sment.

His _crimson_ face showed his embarra.s.sment.

He was a _large_ man.

He was a _fat_ man.

He was a man of _large frame_.

He was a _tall, heavily proportioned_ man.

He was a man _six feet four inches tall_ and _heavy_ in proportion.

It was an _impressive_ building.

It was a building of _impressive size_.

It was a building of _impressive beauty_.

His _fault_ was robbery.

His _crime_ was robbery.

3. AVOID OVER-STATEMENT OF FACTS. The use of words that are too strong is a fault especially characteristic of Americans. Examples:

Poor: The concert was _simply exquisite_.

Better: The concert was _very good_.

Poor: She was _wild_ over the mistake.

Better: She was _much annoyed_ by the mistake.

4. AVOID HACKNEYED PHRASES; expressions that have been worked to death. Examples:

His paternal acres.

The infuriated beast.

The gentle zephyrs of springtime.

Was gathered to his fathers.

The blus.h.i.+ng bride was led to the hymeneal altar.

Applauded to the echo.

EXERCISE 83

_For each of the following expressions devise the best simple English expression that you can:_

1. Individual was precipitated.

2. Tendered him a banquet.

3. At the witching hour of midnight.

4. The devouring element was checked.

5. Piscatorial sport.

6. Pedal extremities.

7. Fraught with tremendous possibilities.

8. Amid the plaudits of the mult.i.tude.

9. Caudal extremity.

10. Pa.s.sed to his long home.

11. Dissected the Thanksgiving bird.

12. Presided at the organ.

13. Finger of scorn pointed at him.

14. Wended his way.

15. The green eyed monster.

16. The whole aggregation of knowledge chasers.

17. Maternal ancestor.

18. Shuffled off this mortal coil.

19. Failed to materialize at the banquet.

20. Tonsorial artist.

21. Twirler of the sphere.

22. Pugilistic encounters.

23. Performed his matutinal ablutions.

24. Partook of a magnificent collation.

25. Solemnized the rites of matrimony.

EXERCISE 84

_In the third paragraph of the selection from Cranford (see --186) observe the use of the following words: HUMAN, WEAKNESS, HANKS, TWISTED, ANNOYED, and UNDOING. Study the specific nature of these words by grouping about each of them other words of somewhat similar meaning, and then comparing the force of the various words in each group._

_This sort of exercise may be continued by choosing pa.s.sages from any careful writer and studying the words that he has used._

EXERCISE 85

_Subst.i.tute for each of the following expressions some expression that will be less general or less exaggerated:_