Writing Tips
Deflate those Inflated Phrases
Good stuff. I do think that dialogue, if it’s consistent with a character’s manner of speaking, is an exception.
The only issue I have with any of those ‘inflated’ phrases is that some of them are simply wrong and examples of poor use of language. However, just as Tennyo says, if they are consistent with dialogue of a certain nature or a certain style of writing as preferred by sme writers, then there is no reason to perceive them as being inferior to the shorter choices.
I do not agree with this idea that everyone should always opt for the shorter phrases or the less verbose writing styles. Write in the way that comes naturally to you. If the story or character or scene you want to put forward needs writing or describing in a certain way, then do so, freely, and without judgment from those who personally prefer another method of presentation holding you back.
A sentence presented as long and heavy on descriptives or clarifying language is not necessarily in any way inferior to a sentence presented in shorter, faster form or a sentence using fewer descriptives, or even a sentence which utilises language that is by way of being a similar but less lengthy way of saying almost the same thing as one of the other types of sentence.
There is no one, golden way. Let those who want to use words use them. Let those who want to cut words away until only the barest bones of what they might be saying remains. Sometimes that can mean that one says more, rather than less, and that’s not a bad thing, but neither is it a bad thing to embrace language and use it in the way one feels is right in order to express something. It doesn’t matter how you do it, just try it and see how you go.
Hear hear! *applause* There is indeed no one way to write. While I’m all for brevity of expression, I’m adamantly opposed to this sort of rampant Hemingway-ization; just because it worked for Papa, that doesn’t mean it will work for you! As well, for students writing essays to satisfy a particular word count, feel free to use this in reverse. :)
