Monday
Nov172008
Words Which Matter
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 06:38PM
My friend and former co-worker Ana has had a lasting impact on my life. She has imparted to me a heightened awareness of one the more egregious transgressions in writing, the overuse of the word "that." As in, "of all the things I've done THAT I've regretted...," or "it doesn't take a genious to see THAT the president-elect...." A close cousin of the nefarious "that" is the even more horrific word "which." "Of all the things which we could have done...," or, "A high school football program which has not made the playoffs..." are examples of the evil "which." "That" is preferred over "which," and even then "that" must be controlled, like mice. This I learned from Ana as I watched her, again and again, slash and maim any stray "that" or "which" unlucky enough to be within reach of her lethal red pen.
So it was inevitable Ana would cross my mind today as I came across an article entitled, "Back to Which-Hunting," by James J. Kilpatrick. I love his stuff, very clever. Here is his post to which I refer: Back to Which-Hunting. In case you don't want to read it, here is an excerpt:
Let us turn to that brilliant lexicographer, Bryan Garner, in his "Modern American Usage." He begins his entry on "which" with characteristic restraint:
"This word, used immoderately, is possibly responsible for more bad sentences than any other in the language."
My own advice to writers is not so restrained: When you feel an urge to use a "which," lie down until the spasm goes away.
I'll never be a great writer, but it's good to hear from the authorities now and then.
So it was inevitable Ana would cross my mind today as I came across an article entitled, "Back to Which-Hunting," by James J. Kilpatrick. I love his stuff, very clever. Here is his post to which I refer: Back to Which-Hunting. In case you don't want to read it, here is an excerpt:
Let us turn to that brilliant lexicographer, Bryan Garner, in his "Modern American Usage." He begins his entry on "which" with characteristic restraint:
"This word, used immoderately, is possibly responsible for more bad sentences than any other in the language."
My own advice to writers is not so restrained: When you feel an urge to use a "which," lie down until the spasm goes away.
I'll never be a great writer, but it's good to hear from the authorities now and then.
tagged Kilpatrick, grammar, writing in Whatnot
Kilpatrick, grammar, writing in Whatnot
Reader Comments (1)
Dave! Like, that post was like so great and I think that you should write like that all the time, because it is in a style which I really like and it sounds so, so, so good. And that way you put it makes like so much sense which is good because people that read it will understand that stuff you are saying and stop using words that drive me crazy.
Seriously, I would love to read your take on one of my favorite grammar phenomenons: the self-referential sentence. This sentence is to challenge you to a self-referential sentence duel and it is also the last sentence of this comment.