Re: e-prime info

[Stephen Victor <svictor -at- HOUSTON -dot- GEOQUEST -dot- SLB -dot- COM>]

Miki Magyar wrote:
>
> Jane Bergen said:
> One of my pet peeves involves the use of the verb "to be" -- most of the
> time the writing is more authoritative and has more impact if we eliminate
> that verb.
>
> I heartily agree! The subject is General Semantics, and the web site for
> the International Society for General Semantics (ISGS) is
> http://www.crl.com/~isgs/isgshome.html
>
> Clarity and precision in thought and language is desirable in both technical
> and 'creative' writing. My perception is that practice in one domain carries
> over into the other. To stimulate the 'leetle grey cells', see also deBono's
> books on lateral thinking.
>
> Regards,
> Miki
> mikim -at- mcdata -dot- com
> "Curtsy while you're thinking what to say. It saves time"
> Lewis Carroll

Ah, but in the quotations given above, I count no fewer than five
instances of the verb "to be" (six counting the Carroll quotation). If
we intend to advocate the use of E-prime, let's at least practice what
we preach. ;)

Regards,
Steve
--
Stephen P. Victor                               Phone: (713) 513-2552
Technical Writer, Software Training             Fax:   (713) 513-2019
Schlumberger GeoQuest                svictor -at- houston -dot- geoquest -dot- slb -dot- com
5599 San Felipe, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas 77056 USA

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