Date:
Mon, 8 Jun 1992 08:01:06 EST
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I just received an office pass-around that I usually just
check quickly for anything remotely useful and dump in the
next person's overloaded in-box. This time, turning it
face-down to ease the pain somewhat, I noticed a whole
section on Twain quotes. They made what promised to be an
awful Monday morning into something just a little bearable.
Thought I'd share them.
The section is as follows:
Top Tips from Mark Twain
Mark Twain helped to shape the American language. Here
are some quotes worth noting from this great writer:
** On style (to a 12-year-old boy): "I notice that you use
plain, simply language, short words and brief sentences.
That is the way to write English -- it is the modern way and
the best way. Stick to it, and don't let fluff and flowers
and verbosity creep in."
** More on style: "When you catch an adjective, kill it.
No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them -- then the
rest will be valuable. They give strength when they are
wide apart."
** On using short words: "I never write `metropolis' for 7
cents when I can get the same for `city.'
** More on short words: "Eschew surplusage."
** On being concise: "With a hundred words to do it with,
the literary artisan could catch that airy thought and tie
it down and reduce it to a ... cabbage, but the artist does
it with 20 -- and the result is a flower."
** On word choice: "The difference between the
almost-right word and the right word is really a large
matter -- 'tis the difference between the lightning bug and
the lightning."
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Susan Finkelstein
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