Tuesday July 31, 2007

2007
07.31

I wish Indian feature writers would take a cue from Mark Twain’s editorial observations:

“I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words, and brief sentences. That is the way to write English – it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; and don’t let the fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in.

When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them – then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when close together. They give strength when they are wide apart.

An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as aard to get rid of as any other wise.”

I remember this chap in college, who would wax eloquent in his peices for the college magazine, mostly his writings comprised a series of adjectives peppered with one or two other type of words (nouns, verbs, articles and the like).

 

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