Lucy Adams's Blog, page 20
April 22, 2012
Then v. Than
Then v. Than
Based on FaceBook posts and emails I receive, there seems to be great confusion about when to use then and when to write than. As you will soon see, however, the distinction between the two words is greater than the one letter that separates them. And once we understand the distinction, we will use the words right every time.
Than is used for making comparisons.
She is no more brilliant than a wood ant.
Time slips by faster than a 12 year-old boy up to mischief.
I'd rather own a pony than an hissing cockroach.
Then is an expression of time or of order of events.
Go to the Dixie Queen, then turn left.
When it rains, the fun will end; we won't go home until then .
First, peel the banana. Next, hold it firmly below the drape of the peels. Then , take a bite.
It wasn't until then , when we saw the shark fin, that we were scared.
If this post proves I'm smarter than a 5th grader, then leave a comment. Even if it doesn't, leave a comment :)
Tomorrow: Underline
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
Based on FaceBook posts and emails I receive, there seems to be great confusion about when to use then and when to write than. As you will soon see, however, the distinction between the two words is greater than the one letter that separates them. And once we understand the distinction, we will use the words right every time.
Than is used for making comparisons.
She is no more brilliant than a wood ant.
Time slips by faster than a 12 year-old boy up to mischief.
I'd rather own a pony than an hissing cockroach.
Then is an expression of time or of order of events.
Go to the Dixie Queen, then turn left.
When it rains, the fun will end; we won't go home until then .
First, peel the banana. Next, hold it firmly below the drape of the peels. Then , take a bite.
It wasn't until then , when we saw the shark fin, that we were scared.
If this post proves I'm smarter than a 5th grader, then leave a comment. Even if it doesn't, leave a comment :)
Tomorrow: Underline
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 21, 2012
Semicolon
Semicolon
It is a form of punctuation that looks like this: ;
Semicolons are versatile little pieces of punctuation that can be used to enhance one's writing, when not overused. Semicolons function to join two clauses or to separate items in lists. A semicolon indicates a moderate pause, as opposed to a period, which calls for a complete stop, or a comma, which warrants a brief pause.
1) Use a comma when joining two independent, complete sentences with a conjunction (and, or, but, yet, nor, so, for). Use a semicolon when joining them without a conjunction. The most often used conjunctions are .
For example: Edwayne ate chicken livers for dinner; he ate brains and eggs for breakfast.
2) Use semicolons between items in a series when each item contains a comma.
For example: She thought of escaping to Honolulu, Hawaii; Mulholland, Massachusettes; Nowhere, New Mexico.
3) A semicolon precedes a conjunction joining two sentences when the first sentence contains a comma.
For example: While heat rose in watery waves from the pavement, she pressed the accelerator; but, she felt nothing as the car passed through what she had always thought of as a barrier.
4) Use a semicolon between the first and second sentence when the second sentence begins with an introductory word (however, nonetheless, therefore, thus, namely, etc.).
For example: She felt like nothing could stop her now; nonetheless, sirens wailed somewhere in the distance.
5) Consider This! Do NOT use a semicolon to join two sentences that have no relationship to each other. Semicolons give impact to sentences that either express opposing ideas or that have strongly related ideas.
For example: Backing out the driveway on Thursday, she hit the mailbox and knocked the rearview mirror off of the car; it was no great loss. She had no plans to get it fixed. The Alabama border was calling her onward.
This A to Z stuff is wearing me out; a nap is in order. I used a semicolon there because I needed a moderate pause. I might be tired, but I don't plan to stop. Period.
Tomorrow: Then v. Than
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
It is a form of punctuation that looks like this: ;
Semicolons are versatile little pieces of punctuation that can be used to enhance one's writing, when not overused. Semicolons function to join two clauses or to separate items in lists. A semicolon indicates a moderate pause, as opposed to a period, which calls for a complete stop, or a comma, which warrants a brief pause.
1) Use a comma when joining two independent, complete sentences with a conjunction (and, or, but, yet, nor, so, for). Use a semicolon when joining them without a conjunction. The most often used conjunctions are .
For example: Edwayne ate chicken livers for dinner; he ate brains and eggs for breakfast.
2) Use semicolons between items in a series when each item contains a comma.
For example: She thought of escaping to Honolulu, Hawaii; Mulholland, Massachusettes; Nowhere, New Mexico.
3) A semicolon precedes a conjunction joining two sentences when the first sentence contains a comma.
For example: While heat rose in watery waves from the pavement, she pressed the accelerator; but, she felt nothing as the car passed through what she had always thought of as a barrier.
4) Use a semicolon between the first and second sentence when the second sentence begins with an introductory word (however, nonetheless, therefore, thus, namely, etc.).
For example: She felt like nothing could stop her now; nonetheless, sirens wailed somewhere in the distance.
5) Consider This! Do NOT use a semicolon to join two sentences that have no relationship to each other. Semicolons give impact to sentences that either express opposing ideas or that have strongly related ideas.
For example: Backing out the driveway on Thursday, she hit the mailbox and knocked the rearview mirror off of the car; it was no great loss. She had no plans to get it fixed. The Alabama border was calling her onward.
This A to Z stuff is wearing me out; a nap is in order. I used a semicolon there because I needed a moderate pause. I might be tired, but I don't plan to stop. Period.
Tomorrow: Then v. Than
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 20, 2012
Resultative Adjective
Resultative Adjective
A resultative adjective comes after the noun it describes and gives the reader information about the outcome of the action of the verb on the noun. Generally, the meaning of the sentence is very different than it would be if the adjective were placed before the noun. Thus, the overriding rule is for the writer to think carefully about what he or she is trying to say and to arrange the words in the sentence accordingly.
Consider the following passage:
Mr. Magoo traveled to the far West Indies in search of the greatest hunt of a lifetime. Though the Mangled Malatrope was an endangered cloven-hoofed species known in the parts to be both aggressive and scarce, he did not care. He wanted to be the last man on earth to bag the trophy beast. And on the eve of August 17, he returned to camp triumphant. That night in celebration, he and his guides (a) cooked the meat rare or (b) cooked the rare meat.
Do you see how the meaning of (a) is very different from the meaning of (b)? In (a), rare is a resultative adjective and implies that the meat was not cooked all the way. In (b), the word rare precedes the noun, meat, and implies that the meat is uncommon and not easily acquired.
Can you give an example of two sentences with different meanings, depending on the location of the adjective?
Tomorrow: Semicolon
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
A resultative adjective comes after the noun it describes and gives the reader information about the outcome of the action of the verb on the noun. Generally, the meaning of the sentence is very different than it would be if the adjective were placed before the noun. Thus, the overriding rule is for the writer to think carefully about what he or she is trying to say and to arrange the words in the sentence accordingly.
Consider the following passage:
Mr. Magoo traveled to the far West Indies in search of the greatest hunt of a lifetime. Though the Mangled Malatrope was an endangered cloven-hoofed species known in the parts to be both aggressive and scarce, he did not care. He wanted to be the last man on earth to bag the trophy beast. And on the eve of August 17, he returned to camp triumphant. That night in celebration, he and his guides (a) cooked the meat rare or (b) cooked the rare meat.
Do you see how the meaning of (a) is very different from the meaning of (b)? In (a), rare is a resultative adjective and implies that the meat was not cooked all the way. In (b), the word rare precedes the noun, meat, and implies that the meat is uncommon and not easily acquired.
Can you give an example of two sentences with different meanings, depending on the location of the adjective?
Tomorrow: Semicolon
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 18, 2012
Quotation Marks
Quotation Marks
It is a form of punctuation that looks like this: " "
Quotation marks indicate that the words within them are exactly what someone said or lifted exactly as written in text. Usually a speaker tag (words identifying who said the quote or from where the quote was taken) precedes or follows the quote and is set off by a comma. Some rules regarding the correct usage of quotation marks:
1) Periods and commas that follow a quote are always enclosed in the quotation marks.
For example: Junior's shoulders stiffened when his mama said, "I ain't gonna hit a lick at a stick today even if a cow hooks me."
"We ain't got no milk, though, Mama," PeteJoe whined, hoping to spur her to busyness.
"You boys just hush yourselves up," she said, irritated, "and get on and do your chores!"
2) When writing quotes within quotes, use single quotation marks.
For example: PeteJoe's shoulders slumped. "Mr. Edwayne tells us, 'Y'all gonna get double for ever snake over 4 foot,' and Mama tells us, 'Do your chores and don't mess with no snakes.'"
3) Alert! Alert! Semicolons and colons are NEVER enclosed in quotation marks, unless they are part of the exact words.
For example: Junior ventured, "Mama, we aim to go fishing today"; nonetheless, she stuck to her ain't-gonna-git-up attitude.
4) Question marks and exclamation marks may or may not be enclosed in quotation marks.
a) If the quoted material is the question or exclamation, enclose the question/exclamation mark within the quotation marks.
For example: PeteJoe tried his sweet-talking voice, sing-songing, "Mama, is it alright with you if when we finish all the chores we head down to the bog to gig some frogs for dinner?"
Her eyes closed, then suddenly flew open with a fiery pitch, and she spat, "I know where you boys been goin' and what you been doing!"
b) If the words outside of the quotation marks AND the quoted material are both questions or exclamations, enclose the question/exclamation mark within the quotation marks.
For example: Did she ask, "How many frogs can y'all gig in an afternoon?"
By golly and jimineeze-sneeze, she shouted, "Git me some frog legs, boys!"
c) If the words outside of quotation marks are a question or exclamation, but the words within the quotation marks are not, then the question/exclamation mark follows the quotation marks.
For example: Did she say, "You'll never finish all of your chores before dark"?
By golly and jimineeze-sneeze, she said, "I just need to rest my eyes a bit"!
In the end, it's the punctuation, not the quotation, that gets folks.
Tomorrow: Resultative Adjective
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
It is a form of punctuation that looks like this: " "
Quotation marks indicate that the words within them are exactly what someone said or lifted exactly as written in text. Usually a speaker tag (words identifying who said the quote or from where the quote was taken) precedes or follows the quote and is set off by a comma. Some rules regarding the correct usage of quotation marks:
1) Periods and commas that follow a quote are always enclosed in the quotation marks.
For example: Junior's shoulders stiffened when his mama said, "I ain't gonna hit a lick at a stick today even if a cow hooks me."
"We ain't got no milk, though, Mama," PeteJoe whined, hoping to spur her to busyness.
"You boys just hush yourselves up," she said, irritated, "and get on and do your chores!"
2) When writing quotes within quotes, use single quotation marks.
For example: PeteJoe's shoulders slumped. "Mr. Edwayne tells us, 'Y'all gonna get double for ever snake over 4 foot,' and Mama tells us, 'Do your chores and don't mess with no snakes.'"
3) Alert! Alert! Semicolons and colons are NEVER enclosed in quotation marks, unless they are part of the exact words.
For example: Junior ventured, "Mama, we aim to go fishing today"; nonetheless, she stuck to her ain't-gonna-git-up attitude.
4) Question marks and exclamation marks may or may not be enclosed in quotation marks.
a) If the quoted material is the question or exclamation, enclose the question/exclamation mark within the quotation marks.
For example: PeteJoe tried his sweet-talking voice, sing-songing, "Mama, is it alright with you if when we finish all the chores we head down to the bog to gig some frogs for dinner?"
Her eyes closed, then suddenly flew open with a fiery pitch, and she spat, "I know where you boys been goin' and what you been doing!"
b) If the words outside of the quotation marks AND the quoted material are both questions or exclamations, enclose the question/exclamation mark within the quotation marks.
For example: Did she ask, "How many frogs can y'all gig in an afternoon?"
By golly and jimineeze-sneeze, she shouted, "Git me some frog legs, boys!"
c) If the words outside of quotation marks are a question or exclamation, but the words within the quotation marks are not, then the question/exclamation mark follows the quotation marks.
For example: Did she say, "You'll never finish all of your chores before dark"?
By golly and jimineeze-sneeze, she said, "I just need to rest my eyes a bit"!
In the end, it's the punctuation, not the quotation, that gets folks.
Tomorrow: Resultative Adjective
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 17, 2012
Parentheses
Parentheses
It is a form of punctuation that looks like this: ( )
Used sparingly, parentheses add clarity and/or additional information to sentences:
1) Use parentheses to enclose clarifying information or an aside.
For example: Edwayne paid Junior and PeteJoe twenty-five smackaroos ($25) for the snake rattler they delivered, no questions asked, no mama notified. Snake rattlers on sticks (an alleged Native-American, low-country art form) sold great to the slick tourists with their whiny-mouthed tots.
2) Use complete parentheses to enclose the numbers for a list.
For example: Rattlers on sticks are used for (1) fending off evil spirits, (2) calling down the rains, and (3) scaring little sisters.
3) Caution! Watch your period placement. If parentheses enclose an aside or a clarification at the end of the sentence, the period is placed outside of the parentheses. If parentheses enclose an entire sentence, the period is enclosed within the parentheses.
For example: For certain, if PeteJoe and Junior's mama caught them selling snake rattlers, she would switch them good (and she had a nose for detecting the smell of snake). (The best plan of action for the boys was to use some of their profit to buy lemons for scrubbing their hands.) But Edwayne paid those youngins so well, they were willing to risk the snake's bite and their mama's venom.
Parentheses are a lot easier to explain than mixed conditionals. Hallelujah. What are the common misconceptions about parentheses? Why would we not want to overuse them, as I surely did in my example above?
Tomorrow: Quotation Marks
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
It is a form of punctuation that looks like this: ( )
Used sparingly, parentheses add clarity and/or additional information to sentences:
1) Use parentheses to enclose clarifying information or an aside.
For example: Edwayne paid Junior and PeteJoe twenty-five smackaroos ($25) for the snake rattler they delivered, no questions asked, no mama notified. Snake rattlers on sticks (an alleged Native-American, low-country art form) sold great to the slick tourists with their whiny-mouthed tots.
2) Use complete parentheses to enclose the numbers for a list.
For example: Rattlers on sticks are used for (1) fending off evil spirits, (2) calling down the rains, and (3) scaring little sisters.
3) Caution! Watch your period placement. If parentheses enclose an aside or a clarification at the end of the sentence, the period is placed outside of the parentheses. If parentheses enclose an entire sentence, the period is enclosed within the parentheses.
For example: For certain, if PeteJoe and Junior's mama caught them selling snake rattlers, she would switch them good (and she had a nose for detecting the smell of snake). (The best plan of action for the boys was to use some of their profit to buy lemons for scrubbing their hands.) But Edwayne paid those youngins so well, they were willing to risk the snake's bite and their mama's venom.
Parentheses are a lot easier to explain than mixed conditionals. Hallelujah. What are the common misconceptions about parentheses? Why would we not want to overuse them, as I surely did in my example above?
Tomorrow: Quotation Marks
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 16, 2012
Objects
Objects
In a sentence, the object is someone or something that receives the verb's action. For example, in the sentence, "He diddled the snake with a stick," the snake is the object of the verb, diddled. Objects are nouns or pronouns that generally come after the verb in the sentence.
To determine the object of the verb, find the verb and then ask the question, "What?" The object is the answer to that question. Considering the sentence, "Amelia spits expletives at her red-penned editor," I would ask, "What did Amelia spit?" The answer is expletives; thus, I have found the object (and the source of the editor's angst).
To most grammarians, a complete thought, i.e. a sentence, includes a subject, verb and object. The subject is who or what did the action, which is the verb, to the object. The object completes the story told by the sentence.
An exception to this rule, naturally, are sentences that transmit a complete idea via only the subject and verb. A primary example of such a sentence is the Bible verse, Jesus wept. No object is necessary.
Tomorrow: Parentheses
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
In a sentence, the object is someone or something that receives the verb's action. For example, in the sentence, "He diddled the snake with a stick," the snake is the object of the verb, diddled. Objects are nouns or pronouns that generally come after the verb in the sentence.
To determine the object of the verb, find the verb and then ask the question, "What?" The object is the answer to that question. Considering the sentence, "Amelia spits expletives at her red-penned editor," I would ask, "What did Amelia spit?" The answer is expletives; thus, I have found the object (and the source of the editor's angst).
To most grammarians, a complete thought, i.e. a sentence, includes a subject, verb and object. The subject is who or what did the action, which is the verb, to the object. The object completes the story told by the sentence.
An exception to this rule, naturally, are sentences that transmit a complete idea via only the subject and verb. A primary example of such a sentence is the Bible verse, Jesus wept. No object is necessary.
Tomorrow: Parentheses
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 15, 2012
Negatives
Negatives
In grammar, a negative word expresses the absence of something. If I say, "I have no flour for the cookie dough," I am telling my reader about the absence of flour in my pantry. This is called a negative statement.
In grammar, as in math, two negatives make a positive. If I say, "I hardly have no flour for the cookie dough," I've used two negatives, hardly and no, to explain the condition of flour in my pantry. This is called a double negative. My sentence becomes a positive statement, indicating to my reader that I do indeed have flour in my pantry.
In English grammar, two negative words should never be used in the same sentence to refer to same thing.
Negative words include:
no
none
nobody
not
nothing
nowhere
no one
hardly
barely
scarcely
neither
. . . and in Georgia, nairn, as in the standard double negative, I ain't got nairn, which southerners innately understand to mean, I don't have any.
What double negatives are commonly accepted in your local vernacular?
Tomorrow: Objects
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
In grammar, a negative word expresses the absence of something. If I say, "I have no flour for the cookie dough," I am telling my reader about the absence of flour in my pantry. This is called a negative statement.
In grammar, as in math, two negatives make a positive. If I say, "I hardly have no flour for the cookie dough," I've used two negatives, hardly and no, to explain the condition of flour in my pantry. This is called a double negative. My sentence becomes a positive statement, indicating to my reader that I do indeed have flour in my pantry.
In English grammar, two negative words should never be used in the same sentence to refer to same thing.
Negative words include:
no
none
nobody
not
nothing
nowhere
no one
hardly
barely
scarcely
neither
. . . and in Georgia, nairn, as in the standard double negative, I ain't got nairn, which southerners innately understand to mean, I don't have any.
What double negatives are commonly accepted in your local vernacular?
Tomorrow: Objects
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 13, 2012
Mixed Conditionals
Mixed Conditionals
Conditionals are if-statements. One condition in the statement relies on the other condition in the statement. For example, if we go to the pizza joint, we can all sit together. Conditionals may be used to make statements about real or imagined events: If aliens ring my doorbell, I'm not answering.
There are four types of conditionals (don't worry, I haven't forgotten that today I'm supposed to discuss mixed conditionals):
Zero Conditionals - If statements that are always true. If I fall through the frozen pond, I will get cold.
First Conditionals - If statements about things that are likely to happen. One future event is dependent on another future event. If I take voice lessons, I will try out for the next American Idol.
Second Conditionals - If statements that are unlikely in the future or impossible in the present. If I audition for American Idol, I'll get to be friends with Steven Tyler. If I had a beautiful singing voice, he would want to meet me.,
Third Conditionals - If statements that are impossible in the past.It is a statement about what we imagine could have happened. If I had been one of the contestants, I would have been his best friend.
Okay, take a deep breathe. Here comes the mixed conditional. Stay with me, here.
There are two types of mixed conditionals:
Third Second Mixed Conditionals - If statements about imaginary present conditions or if statements about situations that are not possible because conditions were not met in the past. If I had taken the high road, we would be in a different position.
Second Third Mixed Conditionals - If statements that avoid illogically saying "If I had been you," which implies I wasn't you on that occasion but could be you in the future, which you and I both know is impossible. If I were you, I would blot my lipstick.
Conditionals are CRAZY! I'm exhausted. Now that I've been through all of that, I conclude that proper use of mixed conditionals is the least of a writer's worries. Let's not get hung up on them.
Tomorrow: Negatives
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
Conditionals are if-statements. One condition in the statement relies on the other condition in the statement. For example, if we go to the pizza joint, we can all sit together. Conditionals may be used to make statements about real or imagined events: If aliens ring my doorbell, I'm not answering.
There are four types of conditionals (don't worry, I haven't forgotten that today I'm supposed to discuss mixed conditionals):
Zero Conditionals - If statements that are always true. If I fall through the frozen pond, I will get cold.
First Conditionals - If statements about things that are likely to happen. One future event is dependent on another future event. If I take voice lessons, I will try out for the next American Idol.
Second Conditionals - If statements that are unlikely in the future or impossible in the present. If I audition for American Idol, I'll get to be friends with Steven Tyler. If I had a beautiful singing voice, he would want to meet me.,
Third Conditionals - If statements that are impossible in the past.It is a statement about what we imagine could have happened. If I had been one of the contestants, I would have been his best friend.
Okay, take a deep breathe. Here comes the mixed conditional. Stay with me, here.
There are two types of mixed conditionals:
Third Second Mixed Conditionals - If statements about imaginary present conditions or if statements about situations that are not possible because conditions were not met in the past. If I had taken the high road, we would be in a different position.
Second Third Mixed Conditionals - If statements that avoid illogically saying "If I had been you," which implies I wasn't you on that occasion but could be you in the future, which you and I both know is impossible. If I were you, I would blot my lipstick.
Conditionals are CRAZY! I'm exhausted. Now that I've been through all of that, I conclude that proper use of mixed conditionals is the least of a writer's worries. Let's not get hung up on them.
Tomorrow: Negatives
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 11, 2012
Killed It - A Bit about Word Usage
Killed it
A single word can have so many different meanings, and the nuances of a particular meaning can make or break a sentence. "She killed it" could mean that she gave her very best performance and is sure to take top prize in the kazoo blowing contest. Or it could mean the squirrel that unwisely chose to cross the street in front of her car, as she excitedly yelled her good fortune from the auto's open windows, came to a flat and definite end.
Similarly, lots of words in the English language sound alike, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Don't use the word break, when what you really mean is "She stepped on the brake, but it was too late" or the word brake when what you should say is "Slapping her guilty, sweaty palm on her forehead, she whispered, 'Give me a break.'"
Misunderstandings are common when the wrong words are used or when meanings are confused.
Do you have a good example of confusing contexts?
Tomorrow: Loanwords
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
A single word can have so many different meanings, and the nuances of a particular meaning can make or break a sentence. "She killed it" could mean that she gave her very best performance and is sure to take top prize in the kazoo blowing contest. Or it could mean the squirrel that unwisely chose to cross the street in front of her car, as she excitedly yelled her good fortune from the auto's open windows, came to a flat and definite end.
Similarly, lots of words in the English language sound alike, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Don't use the word break, when what you really mean is "She stepped on the brake, but it was too late" or the word brake when what you should say is "Slapping her guilty, sweaty palm on her forehead, she whispered, 'Give me a break.'"
Misunderstandings are common when the wrong words are used or when meanings are confused.
Do you have a good example of confusing contexts?
Tomorrow: Loanwords
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
April 10, 2012
Jargon
Jargon
Jargon is the vocabulary particular to a certain profession, trade or group. Amongst the peers of a specific group, it carries great meaning that simplifies and expedites communication. For outsiders, it is meaningless. Almost every profession and trade has its own jargon, from education to electrical engineering to medicine to publishing. Even grammarians have jargon: preposition, predicate, nominative, compound complex, superlative, indirect object . . .
The good thing about jargon is that within a relevant context, it aids exchange of information.
The bad thing about jargon is that some people choose to use it outside of its relevant context. They speak to laypeople in language that only a colleague could interpret. Some people do this because they are unable to translate the jargon into layman's terms. Some people do this because it increases their self-perceived importance. Some people do this because they don't realize that the vocabulary they are using is trade specific. The reasons for misuse of jargon, however, are not as important as the outcome: communication breakdown.
1) Avoid using jargon unless the target audience of what you are writing includes only readers in the field that uses that vocabulary.
For example, the following sentence is meant only for techies: This option makes the list command show the interface name, the rule options, and the TOS masks. The packet and byte counters are also listed, with the suffix 'K', 'M' or 'G' for 1000, 1,000,000 and 1,000,000,000 multipliers respectively. (http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-i...)
2) If the use of jargon is unavoidable, provide an explanation of the term or provide significant context clues to the meaning of the term.
For example:
One of the determinants for passing 5th grade is the CRCT. The Criterion Referenced Cumulative Test is a standardized test that measures a student's retention of and ability to apply math and language arts skills. Other performance standards, such as classroom grades, teacher recommendations, and periodic benchmark tests are also used for making promotion decisions.
Can you give an example of jargon used in your profession?
Tomorrow: Killing it: A bit about word usage.
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
Jargon is the vocabulary particular to a certain profession, trade or group. Amongst the peers of a specific group, it carries great meaning that simplifies and expedites communication. For outsiders, it is meaningless. Almost every profession and trade has its own jargon, from education to electrical engineering to medicine to publishing. Even grammarians have jargon: preposition, predicate, nominative, compound complex, superlative, indirect object . . .
The good thing about jargon is that within a relevant context, it aids exchange of information.
The bad thing about jargon is that some people choose to use it outside of its relevant context. They speak to laypeople in language that only a colleague could interpret. Some people do this because they are unable to translate the jargon into layman's terms. Some people do this because it increases their self-perceived importance. Some people do this because they don't realize that the vocabulary they are using is trade specific. The reasons for misuse of jargon, however, are not as important as the outcome: communication breakdown.
1) Avoid using jargon unless the target audience of what you are writing includes only readers in the field that uses that vocabulary.
For example, the following sentence is meant only for techies: This option makes the list command show the interface name, the rule options, and the TOS masks. The packet and byte counters are also listed, with the suffix 'K', 'M' or 'G' for 1000, 1,000,000 and 1,000,000,000 multipliers respectively. (http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-i...)
2) If the use of jargon is unavoidable, provide an explanation of the term or provide significant context clues to the meaning of the term.
For example:
One of the determinants for passing 5th grade is the CRCT. The Criterion Referenced Cumulative Test is a standardized test that measures a student's retention of and ability to apply math and language arts skills. Other performance standards, such as classroom grades, teacher recommendations, and periodic benchmark tests are also used for making promotion decisions.
Can you give an example of jargon used in your profession?
Tomorrow: Killing it: A bit about word usage.
This post is brought to you by the April A to Z Blog Challenge . Check back all through April for daily discussions of writing conventions.
