Words and Expressions Best Avoided In any form of communication consistency of language is generally crucial. On the one hand, written English tends to eschew words which might seem pompous, archaic, obscure, or in any way unnatural.1 However, the use of colloquialisms is the error more frequently met with. Here is a list of words and phrases which are widely felt to be colloquialisms and thus inappropriate for much "serious" writing, unless there is a specific reason to use them. 1. a bit Use instead slightly, to some (small) degree, somewhat, rather, noticeably, perceptibly, tangibly, palpably, marginally etc. 2. a couple of Use instead a few, a number of, several etc. 3. a lot of, lots of Use instead many, a large (a very considerable) number of, a mass of, numerous, countless, a whole range (variety) of, all manner of, a wealth of etc. Cf. p. 152. 4. ...and so on This expression needs to be paraphrased, as in the following sentence: One must preserve old churches, city walls, burghers' houses, hospices and such buildings, (Instead of: and so on.) Another possible way of avoiding and so on is etc., although it is often felt to be highly informal. 1 Examples of this category are spouse for "husband" or "wife", sibling for "brother" or "sister", and the word creature to describe any human being. Cf. also youth, below, p. 173. 168 I \ ; 5. like This word is often overused or misused, like in the present sentence (better would be "as in the present sentence"). Cf. also the following , sentence: They must be encouraged by certain privileges, such as tax-concessions, advertising etc. instead of the clumsy ...like tax-concessions, advertising etc. 6. maybe This word is more common in American than in British English. In British English perhaps is preferable. ! 7. nice, nasty These words are acceptable only in informal contexts. 8. pretty (= fairly) Only in colloquial and extremely informal contexts. 9. funny (= strange, queer) Only in colloquial and extremely informal contexts. When there is any danger of ambiguity, the word is best avoided. t 10. kids (= children, youngsters) This word is extremely colloquial. 11. Short forms such as isn't, aren't etc. are also to be avoided. In conversation, letters to friends, and informal writing generally they are, of course, quite acceptable and often preferable. Certain patterns are available for avoiding short forms: a. They have no money (instead of: don't have...). b. The book fails to provide advice (instead of: doesn't provide...). c. They have ceased to identify with the system (instead of: don't... any longer). d. This is important, but he omits to mention it (instead of: doesn't mention it). e. They have no such customs (instead of: don't have such...). 12. Except in informal contexts the pronoun you meaning one must be avoided, as in When you go jogging every day, you feel fitter. 169 Use one or else a paraphrase. Thus in this particular instance it is possible to write: When one goes jogging every day, one feels fitter. Often a passive construction is possible: thus instead of the sentence The solving of this problem is more difficult than you (one) might suppose. it is possible to write: The solving of this problem is more difficult than might be supposed. In fact, writing one is often merely the lesser of two evils, since in contemporary British English it is widely felt to be somewhat unnatural. 13. get This is the most overused verb in the English language. It is generally good to avoid it wherever it is possible to do so without sounding unnatural. Suggested Exercises (45): In each of the following sentences the verb to get is used rather colloquially. Find a more appropriate equivalent. 1. She gradually got tired of this existence. 2. That is how he got to this conclusion. 3. He must get rid of the mistakes in his English. 4. Do not get discouraged by his forbidding manner. 5. It is easy to get confused when one looks at this problem. 6. They first got acquainted at a dinner party. 7. When the weather got worse the mountaineers were forced to make camp. 8. The scientists got very excited over this discovery. 9. For his years of hard work he finally got his reward. 10. The reader soon gets lost amidst this profusion of material. 11. They soon got irritated with her. 12. That student has got an excellent command of the language. 13. He's got a heart condition. 170 14. They get much financial support from the local authorities. 15. The pantomime got some good reviews. 16. She got very upset when she heard the news. 17. Getting knowledge involves much effort. 18. She got a good education. 19. After spending many days in bed she finally got better. 20. They have long since got used to each other. 21. Soon he had got rid of his only serious rival. 22. This car has got many good features. 23. In the course of transport the vase got smashed. These are just a few of the colloquialisms that should be guarded against, unless the specific aim of the writer is to approach the spoken language. Other words and phrases should be avoided because they are felt to be clumsy. A few of them are listed below: 14. Split infinitives Many English-speakers are sensitive to these. Such a sentence as The author attempts to once and for alt disprove their theories. would be simply unacceptable. It would be necessary to correct it to ...to disprove their theories once and for all. Even such a sentence as The book is likely to rapidly gain acceptance as a standard work, would strike many as inelegant. Better would be: The book is likely to gain acceptance very rapidly as a standard work. or: The book is likely to gain rapid acceptance as a standard work. Very often, however, avoiding a split infinitive results in obscurity or awkwardness. In that case, it can be used without hesitation. 15. Strings of Saxon genitives are to be avoided. Thus, write "the 171 daughter of the writer's acquaintance", instead of "the writer's acquaintance's daughter." 16. I, my These words should not be used too frequently, except where they are to be expected (autobiography, speeches etc.). Least of all should they occur in academic writing, where they can be generally replaced by phrases such as the present author (writer, reviewer) etc., or by impersonal constructions such as as we will see, as will be argued below, it would seem that, it is tempting to suggest that, one may conclude that, it may be safely concluded that, in conclusion etc. There is also the expression arguably, meaning "this is my opinion and, if I wanted to, I could easily provide evidence or arguments in support of it...". Arguably generally goes in mid-position: Sometimes a government can forfeit all moral right to rule. This is arguably the case with John Major's government. N.B. The phrase "according to me" in the sense of "in my opinion" does not exist. 17. there is, there are... These phrases are often overused or used in a clumsy manner, as in the following sentences: There are various subcultures. Within a few years there were more and more differences among the various punk groups. Better would be to recast the sentences: Various subcultures exist. More and more differences emerged..., 18. very much This phrase tends to be used in a very clumsy manner. Very often it is better to use enormously, a great deal or even very considerably. But a complete paraphrase may well be best of all. Thus a sentence like They contributed to European culture very much. can be replaced with: They made an enormous contribution to European culture. 19. youth This word has three meanings: a. the opposite of "old age". b. a word for "teenage boy", especially in newspaper- or radio-contexts. c. "young people" collectively. In this last meaning the word very often sounds stilted, as in the sentence, "In the opinion of Baroness Thatcher British youth are in need of firm moral guidance". Generally it is preferable to use young people, teenagers etc. (For other such words, cf. above, p. 168, n. 1.) 20. therefore This word tends to be used when accordingly, as a result, consequently, hence, thus, this is why etc. are better. 21. cruel This word is often used wrongly, as in the following sentences: Skinheads are often very cruel. War is a cruel way of solving problems. Better would be the words brutal, vicious, savage, sadistic etc. 22. all over the world This phrase is such a terrible cliche that it is often best avoided. Use universally, everywhere you look, anywhere {everywhere) in the world, the whole world over, world-wide etc. 23. others' Better to write "the attention of others" than "others' attention". 24. it is widely known that... Use it is widely realised that, it is common knowledge that... . 25. as it soon appeared Use it soon emerged that, it soon turned out that... . 26. what follows This expression is wrong if it is intended to mean "because of this" or "it follows that...". 27. it is so because... Write this is because.... Ill 173