Redundancy: repetition which makes wordiness
Redundant: exceeding what is needed or natural
HIDDEN REDUNDANCIES
Redundancies become sneaky problems in writing. Some hide themselves so skillfully, it makes one wonder what happened to brain cells during that writing spurt! Others stick out so obviously--at least if a writer looks for them. One that becomes hidden might be:
interactions with others
By definition, interaction means some communication or engaging with others.
Conversely, "Mary spent time talking..." needs some clarification. Was she talking with others, to others, to herself, or to no one in particular?
SOCIAL REDUNDANCIES
Some redundancies come from social programs and professional writing. For example, medicine and nursing, along with lawyers, started using: advance planning / advanced planning.
To plan means to decide "in advance." We do not plan for the past. We plan for the future, in advance of doing. Therefore, we need to change advance planning / advanced planning to = plan, planning. Writing combines many second words with "advance" to create similar problems.
advance forward
advance notice
advance warning
Each of these simply needs the second word to stand alone.
A writer could make my last sentence redundant by changing it to this: Each of these simply needs the second word to stand alone, by itself. Unless a writer wants to add emphasis, and the writing clearly needs the emphasis, be wary of linking a repetitive phrase to words with similar meaning.
RIDICULOUS REDUNDANCIES
Some redundancies sound ridiculously funny when writers realize what they wrote.
Maggie sat inside listening to a car zipping by outside.
That's clearly redundant but writers often miss it. A car can ONLY zip by OUTSIDE, unless your child has built a raceway through your apartment's hallways!
A car zipping by outside awoke Martin from his nap.
The above is still redundant (for the same reason), but it might slide by unnoticed because Martin could also be outside taking his nap. Here, I'd leave "by outside" in the sentence, unless another I inserted another clue for Martin's location.
A car zipping by awoke Martin from his nap. He rolled over toward the half-open window and looked out.
Writers must learn to control the information they give writers. Just as a writer wants readers to see, feel, smell, etc., writers also do not want their readers bogged down in repetitive description.
LEGALIZESE & COMPOUND REDUNDANCIES
Many compound repetition arises from legal wording, in which a writer (or lawyer) tries to cover every contingency. The simple fix, usually, is to pick one, whichever fits the writing and purpose best.
always and forever = pick one
and also = use either and or also but not both, etc.
and etc. = etc. OR use either and or also but not both, etc.
anything over and above this =anything more
authorize and direct = pick one
EMPHATIC REDUNDANCIES
Children read some compound forms in fairy tales, or stories where writers desired emphasis.
The king wanted each and every citizen’s loyalty.
The king wanted every citizen’s loyalty.
each and every one =each, every, all
We speak redundancies as attempts to prove our truthfulness.
John professed his undying love, affection, devotion, and connection to Joyce.
If Joyce needs that much reassurance, John has little chance in coming years!
Lastly, initialisms cause redundancies, especially when new phrases enter speech.
4WD drive - (i) Four Wheel Drive =write 4WD (or it reads “Four Wheel Drive drive”)
ATM machine = (i) Automated Teller Machine =write ATM (or it reads “Automated Teller Machine machine”)
These are only some forms of redundant writing. Others are trickier to spot, but quickly fixed.
The tickets cost only 12.00 for 4 people, or $3.00 per person.
Can you identify why these repeat?
inner feelings
imagine a picture
surrounded on all sides
written document
As you learn to "hear" redundancies when reading your own writing, you will be surprised how many you will spot. Soon, you'll notice when newscasters use them, or when newspaper editors missed them. For any writing, read each sentence critically. Have you (or the writer) said what was intended? Does a phrase stand out as silly when you re-read it?
Watch for direction - location writing.
"He looked up toward the sun" has a redundancy.
Watch for "who" after nouns and pronouns.
Joyce was a person who liked marshmallows. = Joyce liked marshmallows
He is a person who never enjoyed housecleaning. = He never enjoyed housecleaning.
*Note: Correcting "who is" constructions also rearranges passive voice to active voice.
Strive for clarity, rather than repetition!
Judith
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Editing: Using the Article "The" in everyday writing
A word just as small as "not" is the common article "the". "The" applies itself to universal English circumstances, in both singular and plural situations.
The problem with "the," however, is how much it creeps into everyday writing and in unneeded places. Many scholarly writers (psychologists, as one example) tend to overuse "the" as though it becomes a living part of sentences. It becomes especially evident in discussing emotions... the anger ...the sadness... the pride.
It's not that writers never need "the". Instead, writers must become more aware of when--and why--they use "the" in a particular spot. Writers must evaluate whether a sentence would read better with an "a" or an "an" instead of a "the".
If a writer wants to specify ONE item, ONE object, and no other but that specific one, the writer would use "the".
A mechanic showed the car owner the bill. (one specific person)
A mechanic shoved the unpaid bills into a ledger. (plural objects; "the" can be deleted here ) -or-
A mechanic shoved unpaid bills into a ledger.
A mechanic shoved the car owner's unpaid bill into a ledger. (one specific person)
Above, a writer could easily use "a" or "the" in front of mechanic, depending on what the writer intends to convey. "The" usually points to ONE specific person, object, thing, event, day, and so on. "A" can be used for singular also. Here are rules govering use of articles: http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/grammar/aanthe.html
Now, the nifty thing about "the," even more than "a/an," sometimes writers can DELETE those extra "the" words! Yes, SOMETIMES writers can evaluate then CUT them out.
the emotional times
The country faced the emotional times with bravery.
If you intend to point to A SPECIFIC "emotional times" then leave "the" in the sentence.
If it could be ANY emotional times, drop "the".
The country faced emotional times with bravery.
The mothers shared the available resources with each other.
The mothers shared available resources with each other.
The hippies spoke of the love of fellow man during the 1960s.
The hippies spoke of love of fellow man during the 1960s.
Anytime you use "the" before an object or intangible item, such as an emotion, try the sentence with and without "the".
Also, watch for "the" combos in a prepositional phrase. You might easily change the phrase to a possessive phrase and cut "the" as well.
The struggles of X =X’s struggles (where X is a noun or pronoun)
Her struggles
Tom's struggles
President Bush's struggles
The legacy of X...
Her legacy
George's legacy
President Bush's legacy
Read sentences beginning with "The" to see if you can reword and DELETE "The".
Attempt to delete at least 25% of extra "the" constructions. If you use "the" in 3-word phrases, and attempt to cut even one, those deletes do add up to considerable wordiness!
Some "the" phrases can be changed to one or two words, with no loss of meaning.
The irony was =Ironically
the idea of =thinking of, thoughts of
the same as =similar to
the value of = X's value (or just DELETE)
The occurs frequently in passive constructions. When rewritten to active, "the" disappears.
Y was the focus of X = X focused on Y (X=noun, Y = object of sentence)
take the actions =act as
Try to delete your extra, unneeded "the" words. See how far above 25% you can cut. I'm sure you'll end up deleting much more.
Judith
The problem with "the," however, is how much it creeps into everyday writing and in unneeded places. Many scholarly writers (psychologists, as one example) tend to overuse "the" as though it becomes a living part of sentences. It becomes especially evident in discussing emotions... the anger ...the sadness... the pride.
It's not that writers never need "the". Instead, writers must become more aware of when--and why--they use "the" in a particular spot. Writers must evaluate whether a sentence would read better with an "a" or an "an" instead of a "the".
If a writer wants to specify ONE item, ONE object, and no other but that specific one, the writer would use "the".
A mechanic showed the car owner the bill. (one specific person)
A mechanic shoved the unpaid bills into a ledger. (plural objects; "the" can be deleted here ) -or-
A mechanic shoved unpaid bills into a ledger.
A mechanic shoved the car owner's unpaid bill into a ledger. (one specific person)
Above, a writer could easily use "a" or "the" in front of mechanic, depending on what the writer intends to convey. "The" usually points to ONE specific person, object, thing, event, day, and so on. "A" can be used for singular also. Here are rules govering use of articles: http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/grammar/aanthe.html
Now, the nifty thing about "the," even more than "a/an," sometimes writers can DELETE those extra "the" words! Yes, SOMETIMES writers can evaluate then CUT them out.
the emotional times
The country faced the emotional times with bravery.
If you intend to point to A SPECIFIC "emotional times" then leave "the" in the sentence.
If it could be ANY emotional times, drop "the".
The country faced emotional times with bravery.
The mothers shared the available resources with each other.
The mothers shared available resources with each other.
The hippies spoke of the love of fellow man during the 1960s.
The hippies spoke of love of fellow man during the 1960s.
Anytime you use "the" before an object or intangible item, such as an emotion, try the sentence with and without "the".
Also, watch for "the" combos in a prepositional phrase. You might easily change the phrase to a possessive phrase and cut "the" as well.
The struggles of X =X’s struggles (where X is a noun or pronoun)
Her struggles
Tom's struggles
President Bush's struggles
The legacy of X...
Her legacy
George's legacy
President Bush's legacy
Read sentences beginning with "The" to see if you can reword and DELETE "The".
Attempt to delete at least 25% of extra "the" constructions. If you use "the" in 3-word phrases, and attempt to cut even one, those deletes do add up to considerable wordiness!
Some "the" phrases can be changed to one or two words, with no loss of meaning.
The irony was =Ironically
the idea of =thinking of, thoughts of
the same as =similar to
the value of = X's value (or just DELETE)
The occurs frequently in passive constructions. When rewritten to active, "the" disappears.
Y was the focus of X = X focused on Y (X=noun, Y = object of sentence)
take the actions =act as
Try to delete your extra, unneeded "the" words. See how far above 25% you can cut. I'm sure you'll end up deleting much more.
Judith
Editing: When your "not" makes longer prose
"Not," it's such a tiny word, but one that can bulk writing and lead to hours of editing time.
So, what's so wrong with saying "not"? I do not like you. I do not love you. Sounds direct to me!
Yes, most sound direct. But some deceive the writer's eye and reader's ear. "I dislike you (3)" shaves two words from "I do not like you (5)." Writers must review each "not" construction and decide several things:
1/ Is there a shorter way to say it?
2/ Is the meaning the same if the writer shortens the wording?
3/ Does the phrase fit the tone and intent of the writing?
Most college and professional writing instructors caution to phrase negatives as positives. They believe writers appreciate positively stated prose, especially directions. "Do not write in pencil" becomes "Only use blue or black pen." Subtly, readers feel better to read what they CAN do, rather than what they cannot (should not) do.
Have you reviewed your text for "not"? If not (oops there it is), do it now. Highlight every NOT you used. First, change the contractions (yes, you need to do this).
am not
cannot (no, it is not "can not")
could not
do not
had not
have not
is not
will not
would not
not only...but also (if you use not only, you must use but also)
Here's an interesting and so convoluted way to construct a sentence: Attorney Michaels loved preparing for cases not yet tried before a jury (12). Hmm, cases not yet tried before a jury. On the surface, it sounds fairly sophisticated! With a close look, though, the construction shows its own stupidity! Attorney Michaels loved preparing for upcoming jury cases (8).
Indeed, many "not" phrases will have you rolling your eyes and laughing hard enough to at least spill that cup of coffee. Somehow, "not" paints us into corners in prose. Once we use "not," then we need supporting verbs and adverbs to hold it up, sometimes on both sides. He reacted calmly and did not feel. He reacted with unfeeling calmness.
Sometimes, writers just need to locate the opposite:
not consciously = unconsciously
Often, writers simply replace the "not" with generic descriptors before the verb, such as lacked, failed, never, and change the verb to an -ing ending.
did not understand =lacked understanding
Do you have a particularly convoluted "not" construction, or one that sounds extra silly or stupid? Add your "nots" to the comments section.
So, what's so wrong with saying "not"? I do not like you. I do not love you. Sounds direct to me!
Yes, most sound direct. But some deceive the writer's eye and reader's ear. "I dislike you (3)" shaves two words from "I do not like you (5)." Writers must review each "not" construction and decide several things:
1/ Is there a shorter way to say it?
2/ Is the meaning the same if the writer shortens the wording?
3/ Does the phrase fit the tone and intent of the writing?
Most college and professional writing instructors caution to phrase negatives as positives. They believe writers appreciate positively stated prose, especially directions. "Do not write in pencil" becomes "Only use blue or black pen." Subtly, readers feel better to read what they CAN do, rather than what they cannot (should not) do.
Have you reviewed your text for "not"? If not (oops there it is), do it now. Highlight every NOT you used. First, change the contractions (yes, you need to do this).
am not
cannot (no, it is not "can not")
could not
do not
had not
have not
is not
will not
would not
not only...but also (if you use not only, you must use but also)
Here's an interesting and so convoluted way to construct a sentence: Attorney Michaels loved preparing for cases not yet tried before a jury (12). Hmm, cases not yet tried before a jury. On the surface, it sounds fairly sophisticated! With a close look, though, the construction shows its own stupidity! Attorney Michaels loved preparing for upcoming jury cases (8).
Indeed, many "not" phrases will have you rolling your eyes and laughing hard enough to at least spill that cup of coffee. Somehow, "not" paints us into corners in prose. Once we use "not," then we need supporting verbs and adverbs to hold it up, sometimes on both sides. He reacted calmly and did not feel. He reacted with unfeeling calmness.
Sometimes, writers just need to locate the opposite:
not consciously = unconsciously
Often, writers simply replace the "not" with generic descriptors before the verb, such as lacked, failed, never, and change the verb to an -ing ending.
did not understand =lacked understanding
Do you have a particularly convoluted "not" construction, or one that sounds extra silly or stupid? Add your "nots" to the comments section.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Writing: Rules
I found some writing rules on the Internet and wrote a few of my own!
'Is' will be 'was' someday, but neither should be overused now. When combined with "it," your verb needs a lift.
"It is" should never be.
When the is's and was's abound, an action verb should be found.
Force are's and were's from the page by creating an active phrase.
Shelly was possessive of her cat when Shelly's cat cuddled close.
Shelly's boyfriend, Apostrophe, and the boyfriend's mother shared a common possessive trait.
When Shelly dropped Apostrophe, she was free to date many boyfriends without a mark.
Singular nouns only match singular prounouns. A singlular noun never dates a plural prounoun. Be a careful matchmaker. [April 22, 2008: Did you catch my typo in this paragraph? No? Oh well, too late! LOL]
He or she can never be they or their.
Never write vice versa or write both opposing sides in one sentence.
Never write "etc. also" when only one will do.
"The [noun]" tries to make sentences sound profound, when writers don't want "the" hanging around. (The available resources limit how much churches help the poor people. =Available resources limit how much churches help poor people.)
Send me your examples.
Judith
'Is' will be 'was' someday, but neither should be overused now. When combined with "it," your verb needs a lift.
"It is" should never be.
When the is's and was's abound, an action verb should be found.
Force are's and were's from the page by creating an active phrase.
Shelly was possessive of her cat when Shelly's cat cuddled close.
Shelly's boyfriend, Apostrophe, and the boyfriend's mother shared a common possessive trait.
When Shelly dropped Apostrophe, she was free to date many boyfriends without a mark.
Singular nouns only match singular prounouns. A singlular noun never dates a plural prounoun. Be a careful matchmaker. [April 22, 2008: Did you catch my typo in this paragraph? No? Oh well, too late! LOL]
He or she can never be they or their.
Never write vice versa or write both opposing sides in one sentence.
Never write "etc. also" when only one will do.
"The [noun]" tries to make sentences sound profound, when writers don't want "the" hanging around. (The available resources limit how much churches help the poor people. =Available resources limit how much churches help poor people.)
Send me your examples.
Judith
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Writing: My current project & goals
Having cranked out books before, I never stopped to consider what a book needs to make it from my hand to the public. Before, I thought all writing had a place simply because they are words important enough to a writer to set onto paper. However, I've learned much since my earliest days of arrogant writing.
Now I know words important enough to make it to paper are also words dear enough to require rewrites. Polishing one word, one sentence, one paragraph takes more time than the writing took! But that's a big part of the craft, having patience to review E-V-E-R-Y word and evaluate whether it's a keeper. Sometimes I like the words, but the sentences stink. Sometimes, I'm in awe about the sentence "idea" but the words cannot support an ant on stilts. Often all I need are some rocks to anchor thoughts and give them some weight. Sometimes, all I need are a few broad leafs floating between rocks to make my words convey thoughts from one spot to another in the current. Unfortunately, though, a lot of my ants drowned while I floundered about where to place a rock and where my weightless leaves would fall.
By far the hardest task for me has been finding all the ways to cut words. When I hit onto a formula (xyz =b), editing moves fast. But few pages submit to formulas, either in writing or editing. Yet, I admit to secretly looking for every formula I can find to help me know just WHAT to edit, what to cut, what the heck to do with so much writing that now sounds like... crap.
No, I swear I didn't write crap. I didn't set out to write it that way. But after the 101st edit, look-see, browsing for trouble, one's one words start to sound no more interesting than cow dung in a barren field at the coldest part of winter. Even the steam has long ago dissipated from what I thought had sizzled when I wrote it. The uneven spots that looked so interesting in my head now just look as compelling as a flattened pancake from the cow's back end.
The good thing about editing, though, is how eventually you've got to turn your attention back to the front end, the side where things went into writing, got chewed, and twisted until ready to give nourishment. Looking at the front end again, I decide that at least the cow does have two ends, and possibly, just maybe, if I feed my writing a better blend of food, I can salvage what I already wrote. Maybe it's not all cooled, lifeless cow dung.
The problem remains that no cow will ever tell me which parts of my writing suit which part of the cow. At some point, I just have to stop editing and let the damn cow out to pasture, let it see the sunshine, and let others see it.
That's probably, in one swooping motion, the worst--and best--part of writing. If only I wasn't so convinced that others would only step in cow pies, maybe I'd be more excited to open the barn door wide and let the cow roam.
Judith
Now I know words important enough to make it to paper are also words dear enough to require rewrites. Polishing one word, one sentence, one paragraph takes more time than the writing took! But that's a big part of the craft, having patience to review E-V-E-R-Y word and evaluate whether it's a keeper. Sometimes I like the words, but the sentences stink. Sometimes, I'm in awe about the sentence "idea" but the words cannot support an ant on stilts. Often all I need are some rocks to anchor thoughts and give them some weight. Sometimes, all I need are a few broad leafs floating between rocks to make my words convey thoughts from one spot to another in the current. Unfortunately, though, a lot of my ants drowned while I floundered about where to place a rock and where my weightless leaves would fall.
By far the hardest task for me has been finding all the ways to cut words. When I hit onto a formula (xyz =b), editing moves fast. But few pages submit to formulas, either in writing or editing. Yet, I admit to secretly looking for every formula I can find to help me know just WHAT to edit, what to cut, what the heck to do with so much writing that now sounds like... crap.
No, I swear I didn't write crap. I didn't set out to write it that way. But after the 101st edit, look-see, browsing for trouble, one's one words start to sound no more interesting than cow dung in a barren field at the coldest part of winter. Even the steam has long ago dissipated from what I thought had sizzled when I wrote it. The uneven spots that looked so interesting in my head now just look as compelling as a flattened pancake from the cow's back end.
The good thing about editing, though, is how eventually you've got to turn your attention back to the front end, the side where things went into writing, got chewed, and twisted until ready to give nourishment. Looking at the front end again, I decide that at least the cow does have two ends, and possibly, just maybe, if I feed my writing a better blend of food, I can salvage what I already wrote. Maybe it's not all cooled, lifeless cow dung.
The problem remains that no cow will ever tell me which parts of my writing suit which part of the cow. At some point, I just have to stop editing and let the damn cow out to pasture, let it see the sunshine, and let others see it.
That's probably, in one swooping motion, the worst--and best--part of writing. If only I wasn't so convinced that others would only step in cow pies, maybe I'd be more excited to open the barn door wide and let the cow roam.
Judith
Join Yahoo group: Authoring-Strategies-Author-Help-Support
After being a long-time member of writing groups, I've decided to plunge in as moderator of my own group.
Come visit and join Authoring-Strategies-Author-Help-Support at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/authoring-strategies/
Description for Authoring Strategies / Author Help and Support gives new and experienced authors a place to share writing, obtain critiques, learn the writing craft, and polish drafts. Come learn and share your knowledge among supportive writers. Writing tips welcome. Seek non-fiction and fiction, poetry, short stories. NO X-rated content allowed.
I know I've struggled with various writing and editing issues, so I'd love to help other writers with tips I've learned. Equally, I'd appreciate the experiences other writers have had in polishing their words and finding publishers.
Drop by and join us... well, today it is join ME. LOL.
Come visit and join Authoring-Strategies-Author-Help-Support at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/authoring-strategies/
Description for Authoring Strategies / Author Help and Support gives new and experienced authors a place to share writing, obtain critiques, learn the writing craft, and polish drafts. Come learn and share your knowledge among supportive writers. Writing tips welcome. Seek non-fiction and fiction, poetry, short stories. NO X-rated content allowed.
I know I've struggled with various writing and editing issues, so I'd love to help other writers with tips I've learned. Equally, I'd appreciate the experiences other writers have had in polishing their words and finding publishers.
Drop by and join us... well, today it is join ME. LOL.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
(Article) Internet Litter
Internet Litter breeds as much as crushed coffee cups stuck to unused--albeit now filthy--paper napkins.
Litter begins innocently enough. Family (F) or friends (FF) send you an invite to the coolest, hippest, newest social space, expecting you'll be as excited by the trend as they. Or, more common, the sender receives 200 points / a black mug with saying / another coolie gift for signing up as many F or FF as they can in 5 hours or less.
Unsuspecting--or, many times just stupidly--the "invitee" just says "what the Hell" and clicks the registration link and so begins another case of Internet Litter.
Symptoms of Internet Litter
1/ You have one or more screen names/ User IDs floating on websites in which you have NO interest;
2/ You have signed up but no longer remember the websites;
3/ You receive mail from websites but no longer remember WHY;
4/ You feel too embarrassed to opt out, lest one of your friends finds out.
It must be done
The only ways to stop Internet Littering require COURAGE, bold faced, gut-wrenching bravery. Open that mailbox and search for old emails from now-forgotten (they never were so memorable) webs. Get the URL and visit ONLY to find the links to CLOSE THIS ACCOUNT. If you can't find a link, write to Customer Service and tell them to close it ALL. Ahhh, but they offer pink PJs with 50,000 points--so what! Who cares! Can the site! Lose it. Get away. There's something better for you...just waiting... get out NOW!
Second, you must make a NO PLEDGE. The next time you get an invite, just say NO. No, no, no, no, NO! It doesn't matter that the site offers 5,999,899,999 zillion bytes of photo space-- say NO. It doesn't matter if they promise to find the Alien who birthed your 5th great grandmother--just say it, NO, no, no. None of it matters.
You must streamline. You must end this Internet madness. Try it.
No.
No, no.
No, no, no.
No, no, no, no........ it gets so easy! Such freedom!
If you think I am insane, do a search on Google for the UserID you use the most. Uh huh, I bet you never realized how much you litter.
Now, search (manually) the Cookies on your PC. See all those places you signed into that, now, you don't even remember!! Yes, it's bad, very bad. It's an illness, a plague. Take your life back--NOW. Swear to end Internet Litter! You'll be so proud.
Litter begins innocently enough. Family (F) or friends (FF) send you an invite to the coolest, hippest, newest social space, expecting you'll be as excited by the trend as they. Or, more common, the sender receives 200 points / a black mug with saying / another coolie gift for signing up as many F or FF as they can in 5 hours or less.
Unsuspecting--or, many times just stupidly--the "invitee" just says "what the Hell" and clicks the registration link and so begins another case of Internet Litter.
Symptoms of Internet Litter
1/ You have one or more screen names/ User IDs floating on websites in which you have NO interest;
2/ You have signed up but no longer remember the websites;
3/ You receive mail from websites but no longer remember WHY;
4/ You feel too embarrassed to opt out, lest one of your friends finds out.
It must be done
The only ways to stop Internet Littering require COURAGE, bold faced, gut-wrenching bravery. Open that mailbox and search for old emails from now-forgotten (they never were so memorable) webs. Get the URL and visit ONLY to find the links to CLOSE THIS ACCOUNT. If you can't find a link, write to Customer Service and tell them to close it ALL. Ahhh, but they offer pink PJs with 50,000 points--so what! Who cares! Can the site! Lose it. Get away. There's something better for you...just waiting... get out NOW!
Second, you must make a NO PLEDGE. The next time you get an invite, just say NO. No, no, no, no, NO! It doesn't matter that the site offers 5,999,899,999 zillion bytes of photo space-- say NO. It doesn't matter if they promise to find the Alien who birthed your 5th great grandmother--just say it, NO, no, no. None of it matters.
You must streamline. You must end this Internet madness. Try it.
No.
No, no.
No, no, no.
No, no, no, no........ it gets so easy! Such freedom!
If you think I am insane, do a search on Google for the UserID you use the most. Uh huh, I bet you never realized how much you litter.
Now, search (manually) the Cookies on your PC. See all those places you signed into that, now, you don't even remember!! Yes, it's bad, very bad. It's an illness, a plague. Take your life back--NOW. Swear to end Internet Litter! You'll be so proud.
Monday, April 7, 2008
(Article) Do you remember......
Do you recall the first teacher who asked you to memorize a poem to recite before the class?
Do you remember that first creative public speaking engagement?
Had you known the poet before that day? Or did you quickly adopt a writer your mother or father loved?
I'd always heard how my mother loved some lady named Elizabeth Barrett Browning, for some poem mom failed to recite accurately (and never repeated her mistake). All of 9 years old, I felt sure I could remember the words, even if mom had not.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
from Sonnets from the Portuguese
XLIII
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men might strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Somehow, reading that dampened my memorizing spirit! It simply did not fit the front of a grade school classroom, even with coming snickers.
Although much longer, albeit much easier too, a slim book called The Kitten Twins served the purpose I needed. And, so much more interesting for a child who loved cats and kittens!
The Kitten Twins
There were two little kittens
with eyes of blue
One was named Twinkle
And one was named blue.
They tried to be good
And do what was right
But they got into mischief
From morning to night.
When Grandma was knitting
And dropped her yarn ball
They snatched it and dragged it
Way out in the hall.
It rolled down the stairs
Like a fire-ball of red
With the twins rolling after it
Heels over head....
The poem continues for 20 pages, but since it is under copyright, I'll have to stop here.
You can read another of my childhood favorites here: http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~florian/schools/lovelylady.htm
So, what was the first poem YOU memorized?
Do you remember that first creative public speaking engagement?
Had you known the poet before that day? Or did you quickly adopt a writer your mother or father loved?
I'd always heard how my mother loved some lady named Elizabeth Barrett Browning, for some poem mom failed to recite accurately (and never repeated her mistake). All of 9 years old, I felt sure I could remember the words, even if mom had not.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
from Sonnets from the Portuguese
XLIII
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men might strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Somehow, reading that dampened my memorizing spirit! It simply did not fit the front of a grade school classroom, even with coming snickers.
Although much longer, albeit much easier too, a slim book called The Kitten Twins served the purpose I needed. And, so much more interesting for a child who loved cats and kittens!
The Kitten Twins
There were two little kittens
with eyes of blue
One was named Twinkle
And one was named blue.
They tried to be good
And do what was right
But they got into mischief
From morning to night.
When Grandma was knitting
And dropped her yarn ball
They snatched it and dragged it
Way out in the hall.
It rolled down the stairs
Like a fire-ball of red
With the twins rolling after it
Heels over head....
The poem continues for 20 pages, but since it is under copyright, I'll have to stop here.
You can read another of my childhood favorites here: http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~florian/schools/lovelylady.htm
So, what was the first poem YOU memorized?
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