Testy Copy Editors

Our new website is up and running at testycopyeditors.org. This board will be maintained as an archive. Please visit the new site and register. Direct questions to the proprietor, blanp@testycopyeditors.org
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:50 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Flagging fuzzy writing
PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 2:32 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 836
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
I'm gearing up to do a workshop on plain words for a group of local union editors. I'm trying to compile a shortlist of words that flag "fuzzy writing ahead."
To me "issues" is one such. It crops up in phrases such as "health and safety issues" where it should be "bad air and faulty wiring."
Any of you folks have similar flag words? I'd appreciate the list either here, or directly to me at kfitzrandolph@opseu.org . Thanks.<p>[Edited to add e-mail link.--PB]<p>[ September 23, 2003: Message edited by: blanp ]</p>


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flagging fuzzy writing
PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 10:19 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:01 am
Posts: 78
Location: South Carolina
"There are" bugs me, such as: "There are 10 people in the group" when "Ten people are in the group" is much stronger.<p>"Event." I hate this word! "The event is scheduled for the end of time." Just call it what it is... concert, fund-raiser, orgy, whatever.<p>"Decided to." "After four years of being in prison, Joe Schmoe decided to liberate himself by sawing through the bars." Is his decision the interesting thing? No? Well then, why not: "After four years of being in prison, Joe Schmoe liberated himself by sawing through the bars." <p>(If after four years, Schmoe decided to become a woman, well, I'd probably leave it in there.)<p>*
Don't know if that's what you were looking for, but those are some things I've seen in the past 45 minutes. Thought I'd share my pain.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flagging fuzzy writing
PostPosted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:31 am 
Offline

Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 836
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Yep. That's the sort of thing I am looking for all right.


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flagging fuzzy writing
PostPosted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:40 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 12:01 am
Posts: 4
addressed their concerns, or voiced their concerns, expressed his approval, ... aaargh!!!!!


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flagging fuzzy writing
PostPosted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 2:35 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 744
Location: HuskerLand
I've got two: youth and pre-planning.<p>I don't believe anyone really uses "youth" in normal language. (Particularly those who've seen "My Cousin Vinnie.") "Yes, my daughter is out with one of the youth from the college." No. No. No. Call them teenagers, children, young Texans, high-schoolers, bobby-soxers or whatever but not "youth" unless you want fuzzy writing.<p>And will someone tell me what the difference is between planning and pre-planning? None. So let's ban it.<p>So there's my two.


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flagging fuzzy writing
PostPosted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:34 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 257
Location: back in D.M., funny enough
Pointless abstract nouns. <p>"thunderstorm activity" sted "thunderstorms"
"decontamination process" sted "decontamination"
"political arena" sted "politics"
"was an enjoyable experience" sted "was fun"
etc., etc., <p>Activity, Arena, Basis, Character, Concept, Effect, Experience, Focus, Function, Impact, Issue, Level, Manner, Nature, Process, Sector, etc., etc.


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Flagging fuzzy writing
PostPosted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 9:03 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:01 am
Posts: 78
Location: South Carolina
Here's another I just fixed:<p>"The event (GRRRR!) is happening on the campus of Somebig University."<p>The fix:
"The rally is at Somebig University." If it's at the university, it's gotta be on the campus.<p>[ September 24, 2003: Message edited by: Hawkeye ]</p>


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group

What They're Saying




Useful Links