tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post4575268390277963421..comments2024-03-28T06:59:34.982-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Grammar ABCs: U is for UseDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43425856662503544532013-04-04T21:47:00.122-06:002013-04-04T21:47:00.122-06:00Thanks to all of you for your comments. It's a...Thanks to all of you for your comments. It's always fun and "useful" to get others' opinions.Simple is best, in my opinion.Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-1266728189894334572013-04-04T21:06:16.443-06:002013-04-04T21:06:16.443-06:00Okay. I didn't comment on the last time you ta...Okay. I didn't comment on the last time you talked about 'snuck' but it is a Canadianism. We don't say leaped, dived or fishes either. <br /><br />But language is all about change and adapting. Definitions change. Word usage changes. Obviously some words work better than others. Jack and Jill will never 'retrieve' a pail of water. But I think writers and editors should hesitate to add any word to a list of pet peeves.<br /><br />It's like making 'octopi' a pet peeve. Who cares if it isn't right? It's commonly used. Or 'brontosaurus' -- the best known dinosaur that never existed. ikmarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09211122590810154080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64689518099657034862013-04-04T17:43:09.560-06:002013-04-04T17:43:09.560-06:00Count me among the 'simple is better.' And...Count me among the 'simple is better.' And since I write deep POV, I have to make sure whatever words my characters are using are theirs, not mine.<br /><br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.com/terrysplace" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br />Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51374904719586356712013-04-04T13:00:20.790-06:002013-04-04T13:00:20.790-06:00I always like simple and straightforward. Just use...I always like simple and straightforward. Just use the clearest language you can. Don't try to impress me because you won't. I'm reading a memoir that starts far too many sentences with the word "evidently" and wonder what that is all about. Sigh.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78326620807084531642013-04-04T08:50:48.349-06:002013-04-04T08:50:48.349-06:00If use must be used multiple times in a sentence o...If use must be used multiple times in a sentence or short paragraph, perhaps the use of utilize would be beneficial to avoid overuse. On the other hand, as Kathryn suggested, rework the sentence(s) to avoid both. <br /><br />Great fun, Heidi! I love posts like this that remind me to watch my word use. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-34578577495491935992013-04-04T08:48:36.576-06:002013-04-04T08:48:36.576-06:00Okay, here's one for the brainiacs at BRP to h...Okay, here's one for the brainiacs at BRP to help me with: proactive ... where the heck did that come from? I always thought you were either active or reactive ... oh, and I did mean you ... not me ... I'm napping.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80610636739198239262013-04-04T08:16:05.132-06:002013-04-04T08:16:05.132-06:00Always useful to be reminded of this, Heidi. I'...Always useful to be reminded of this, Heidi. I'd edit both out and say "She raked the yard," lol. In that sentence I'd only include the word if the usage was unusual: "She used the toothbrush to clean the yard."Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30072373045859635552013-04-04T07:25:19.012-06:002013-04-04T07:25:19.012-06:00Would the utilization of this venue for the expres...Would the utilization of this venue for the expression of professional amour for a fellow grammarian be inappropriate? Just askin'.<br /><br />Agreed. Using use is usually useful.<br />Cheers, and thanks for the fun post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17976195552577284215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77718476890585338382013-04-04T07:12:53.112-06:002013-04-04T07:12:53.112-06:00Thank you for pointing out how to use "utiliz...Thank you for pointing out how to use "utilize" correctly. : )Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25139043174317410352013-04-04T07:04:30.367-06:002013-04-04T07:04:30.367-06:00I agree that selecting the simpler word is often t...I agree that selecting the simpler word is often the best choice. While I have not seen usage as awkward as your example of utilizing the rake, I have stumbled across some like it, and we really should avoid making our readers stumble. (smile)Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43354422533301407612013-04-04T06:41:19.023-06:002013-04-04T06:41:19.023-06:00i like both words--but you make some interesting p...i like both words--but you make some interesting points!!!Lynn Proctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349867270815243053noreply@blogger.com