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Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

writerswrite.co.za

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Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#121

Post by Crito »

joesmo wrote: post #77
sabbatic13 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rules like these aren't really good guide to style though. They are the sort of guidelines suited to curing teenagers of bad habits. That's the problem I have with articles like these. They aren't adult discussions of language; they do not teach effective writing, and do not promote an understanding of language. One should ideally outgrow such pedagogy by one's second year of college.

In this case, the rule is just not to use the word "very." I can't think of a single context where "very" doesn't degrade from the semantics and syntax of a sentence. I think this rule is appropriate to any and every style.

"Now having a night, a day, and still another night following before me in New Bedford, ere I could embark for my destined port, it became a matter of concernment where I was to eat and sleep meanwhile. It was a very dubious-looking, nay, a very dark and dismal night, bitingly cold and cheerless. I knew no one in the place. With anxious grapnels I had sounded my pocket, and only brought up a few pieces of silver,—So, wherever you go, Ishmael, said I to myself, as I stood in the middle of a dreary street shouldering my bag, and comparing the gloom towards the north with the darkness towards the south—wherever in your wisdom you may conclude to lodge for the night, my dear Ishmael, be sure to inquire the price, and don't be too particular."

Or perhaps more appropriately:

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!"

Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#123

Post by sdegutis »

notlisted wrote: post #110

Let me disagree. Many words in the "rather say" column hinder clear communication. * If a dictionary visit is required, you've failed the audience. * If multiple interpretations are possible, you've failed yourself. Ex: - Sagacious is out of favor since 1920 (google ngram). - Solemn vs 'very serious' (implies religious aspects where there were none) - Accomplished vs 'very capable (implies having attained something,…

Totally agreed. She's just encouraging fluff over substance.

Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#124

Post by jimmaswell »

habosa wrote: post #100

When I was in high school we couldn't use the verb "to be" in assignments for English class. No is, am, are, was, were, has been, will be, etc. Of course this is overly restrictive, but 80-90% of the time there was a better way to phrase the sentence if you thought about removing the "be" verb. 10% of the time it was awkward, which sucked. Aside: also taught me that MS Word has a very advanced find feature where I co…

That is just completely absurd. How would I even say that without using "is"? That .. is, no .. Complete absurdity is , no.. Complete absurdity dwells in that concept? That sounds like I'm trying to write some kind of poetry. The verb "to be" is one of the most important verbs of the entire language. Of any language, even in cases like Latin where it's not said but implied to be there. It is a fundamental tool of communication to equate the existential states of different concepts with the verb "to be". These writings must have sounded awful. No real writing ever avoids the use of "to be". Being is too important of a concept. Cogito ergo sum, as is said. Existential qualification is too important to throw away.

Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#125

Post by jimmaswell »

grecy wrote: post #102
gweinberg wrote: post #54

Isn't this ass-backwards? It seems to me that if exhausted really does just mean the same as "very tired", etc, we should be dumping all these other more intense adjectives. If your purpose in writing is to communicate, then needlessly complicating your speech with uncommon words is a bug, not a feature.

I prefer 'double plus tired'.

Reminds me of how I thought those forms in that book weren't really such a bad idea but were presented in such a negative way.

Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#126

Post by thirsteh »

notlisted wrote: post #110

Let me disagree. Many words in the "rather say" column hinder clear communication. * If a dictionary visit is required, you've failed the audience. * If multiple interpretations are possible, you've failed yourself. Ex: - Sagacious is out of favor since 1920 (google ngram). - Solemn vs 'very serious' (implies religious aspects where there were none) - Accomplished vs 'very capable (implies having attained something,…

It's a bad idea to encrypt passwords, but that's beside the point.

> If a dictionary visit is required, you've failed the audience.

If you take this to its logical conclusion, we end up in a world where English ceases to be the language of Shakespeare and more like dogespeak. No one will be morose anymore, just very sad, and no one will know what it means to be awestruck.

Someone will always need a dictionary. That shouldn't make us afraid to show that we have a vocabulary spanning more than 500 words, or that we have an education at all. God forbid we encourage others to stop talking or writing like 16-year-olds on E! TV.

Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#127

Post by mhartl »

samatman wrote: post #96

This is the very model of a modern formal reference The rule should be respected but not treated with due deference The use for truth or 'verity' is evident but venerable We very much avoid the use of very much in general.

We very much avoid the use of very much in gene- general!

Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#128

Post by igorgue »

notlisted wrote: post #110

Let me disagree. Many words in the "rather say" column hinder clear communication. * If a dictionary visit is required, you've failed the audience. * If multiple interpretations are possible, you've failed yourself. Ex: - Sagacious is out of favor since 1920 (google ngram). - Solemn vs 'very serious' (implies religious aspects where there were none) - Accomplished vs 'very capable (implies having attained something,…

Thanks for this comment, I'm tired of smartasses that try to use every new word they "discover".

Re: Ways to avoid using the word 'very'

#130

Post by gertef »

samatman wrote: post #96

This is the very model of a modern formal reference The rule should be respected but not treated with due deference The use for truth or 'verity' is evident but venerable We very much avoid the use of very much in general.

This is the very model of a modern formal reference

The rule should be respected but with only its due deference

The use for truth or 'verity' is evident and venerable

We very much avoid the use of very much in general.

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