Re: General nit

Adding color and big words doesn't make someone highfalutin. It's one's
attitude that makes one highfalutin, not by using big words. Those words
exist for a purpose. Not using them is a waste. Yes, too many big words can
make an post utterly illegible but when used sparingly, they're fine.
Brevity is fine but being too brief as bad as being long winded!

    Another nit of mine is -

    Not here in RAAM but I've dealt with people that think it's WRONG to use
a dictionary!! I don't always because I'm human :) but I often look up words
to get the word that best fits what I'm saying.




"Heavyarms" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "5parrow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Heavyarms wrote:
> > > "Nev" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >
> > >>When speaking or writing your opinion, why say/write "My personal
> > >
> > > opinion",
> > >
> > >>"My personal belief", etc.? Using the word 'personal' after 'My' in
such
> > >>statements is redundantly unnecessary [umm... anybody catch that?]
> because
> > >>it's *understood* to be solely yours without you having to state so.
> > >>
> > >>Just say/write "My opinion", "My belief", etc.
> > >>
> > >
> > > It's just part of some sort of feeling in our culture where we have to
> put
> > > superfluous words into our statements to make them sound more
important
> or
> > > intelligent.
> >
> > Negative. There's a reason for using a broader range of
> > vocabulary/sentence structure; it adds colour to what would otherwise be
> > purely utilitarian communication.
>
> But unless you're writing a novel or a screenplay, or you're trying to
> impress a chick (or you're Shakespeare) isn't all communication
utilitarian?
>
> If someone were to ask you "Hot out, isn't it?" would you answer "It is my
> personal opinion that it is" or would you answer "yep"?  If you answer the

> first way, then the person who asked you probably won't talk to you
anymore.
> That, or he'll assume you're English.  Which brings us back to the
original
> poster's comment, why do people say "it is my personal opinion that..."
> Obviously, if you are taking the time to offer your opinion, the person
you
> are offering it to will be able to tell that you are already ofering your
> personal opinion (which is redundant, since saying that it is "your's"
makes
> it your personal) without your having to state the obvious.
>
> Adding "colour," as you put it, is just another way that we try to make
what
> we say sound "highfalutin'"  Have you ever heard the expression
"Cleanliness
> is next to Godliness"?  I am of the opition that brevity is also next to
> godliness.  Again, I point to my cited examples of talk radio callers
> beginning their conversation with "I had a comment..." or those who begin
a
> question with "I had a question..."
>
> >
> > If we all used the barest minimum of available verbiage, the language
> > would devolve into something vaguely resembling military radio chatter.
> > I'm sure none of us want that to happen.
> >
> > - 5parrow
> >
>
>