h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Are you using reverse psychology, Dmitri? I would love to follow your advice, even if you don't want me to.

The quote from O. Henry is fascinating. It's been a long time since I've seen the word "sedulous."

The five examples of what *not* to do all involve problematic adjectives. Maybe it would be interesting to try some exercises in which you try to keep adjectives (and even adverbs) to a minimum, just to see if the resulting prose would be cleaner and more transparent. What a treat it would be for a reader if the story told itself,. and the writer was all but invisible.

Just food for thought.

That's a good idea about the adjectives.

I know I should be kept on a leash sometimes, Dmitri, but my intentions are usually good -- even about the quizzes.

Some words are emotionally charged. You've provided some examples of adjectives that carry baggage.

The O. Henry quote shows how meanings can drift over the years. "Gay" was once a word that conveyed a sense of joy and innocence. Now it can be emotionally charged in its new sense.

'Gay' has been emotionally charged for many years. It's had a variety of meanings. At one time, a 'gay woman' was one of negotiable affection, for example...remember flags waving gaily in the breeze? Here's the British Library's summary.

http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/dic/online/gay/gay.html

As Mehitabel the Cat says, 'Toujours gai!'

Thanks for the link.

OK, let's see what we get when we change these suspect words.

'Freda was walking past the shiny new warehouse, when she saw a strange scene. A young man lurched out of alley and carried out a half-hearted attack on an old woman with a shopping bag, but she hit him on the head with her brolly. He reeled away and climbed into a decrepit car. Being a principled politician, she called the police, but realised they might find her account difficult to believe.'

Lovely.

Principled politicians will do that every time.