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Journalistic Writing MCM310

LECTURE 19

STYLE: GUIDELINE AND PITFALLS II

AMBIGUITY:

Ambiguity (ambiguity can be syntactical or semantically)

You write to make life easier for your readers," Rob continued. "Ambiguity makes life harder. It causes

hesitation, doubt, and frustration. It slows down the read."

Ambiguity in writing can be either intentional or unintentional. Intentional ambiguity may be used to mislead a

reader or might be necessary due to the context or subject matter. Unintentional ambiguity should always be

avoided and can be with care and practice.

Three types of ambiguity exist. Understanding the differences between these types will help you identify

ambiguity in what others write and to avoid including unintentional ambiguity in your own writing.

In the following examples, identify the ambiguity and decide how the claims can be re-written to get rid of the

ambiguity.

1. Marry said to her sister that the fault was hers. (not clear whose fault)

2. When she put the pitcher on the glass-topped table it broke. (not clear what broke)

3. Before: The Minister of Agriculture requires eggs to be stamped with the date when they are laid by

the farmer.

After: The Minister of Agriculture requires eggs to be stamped by the farmers with the date when they

are laid.

4. Before: This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas.

After: This morning, in my pajamas, I shot an elephant.

5. Before: Our mothers bore us.

After: Our mothers gave birth to us

6. Before: Americans are willing to drop nuclear weapons.

After: The American people are willing to utilize nuclear weapons.

REDUNDANCY

1. The shop assistant restored the umbrella back to its owner.

2. She was often in the habit of going to the cinema.

3. Before:

John has been quite ill for a really long time.

After: John has been ill for a long time.

4. Before:

Suzy is a good teacher who makes a significant impact on her students and faculty.

After: Suzy is a talented teacher who makes an impact on her students and faculty.

5. Before:

Michael Jordan was the best basketball player ever. Jordan was slam dunk master.

After: Basketball star Michael Jordan was the best basketball player ever and slam dunk master.

6. Before:

John found the job to be easy, and Jen also thought it was simple. Mike completed the

job without difficulty too.

After: John, Jen, and Mike found the job to be easy.

Journalistic Writing MCM310

CLICHÉ: Clichés are phrases that have been exhausted to the point where they have completely lost

originality.

No shadow of doubt

Needless to say

Strange as it may seem

stands to reason

Last but not least

In any shape or form

Leave no stone unturned

Hercules was as strong as an ox.

I have to give an arm and a leg to find a parking spot during the holiday season.

There are loads of websites on the Internet.

EUPHEMISM:

Euphemism

Meaning

Euphemism

Meaning

correctional facility

prison

pre-need

burial arrangements

arrangements

previously owned

used cars

laid to rest

buried

cars

depopulate

kill

pacification

war

revenue

taxes

negative feedback

scolding

enhancements

employment

Fired

negative impact

hurt

terminated

non-passing grade

Failing grade

GRANDILOQUENCE: Pompous/colorful/entatious language.

Before: The luxurious ambiance of this exotic setting, which we chanced upon during our desultory

peregrination south along the Amalfi Coast, is found in the guests seemed to be on a nuptial holiday, whether

the first or the 25th. The place had a number of luminaries who were not at all condescending. Among the

distinguished guests was a producer with his entourage, who came in from their palatial yacht and dined at the

hotel...

After: All the guests at San Pietro seemed to be on honeymoons, whether first, second, or 25th. The crowd

primarily Italian, British, German, and American was sophisticated and decidedly un-snobbish. There were

even a few celebrities on view. A famous producer, his wife and friends stopped by for dinner while their

chartered yacht lay anchored in the harbor. Two well-know actors arrived the day we left. Another star was

there but, for some reasons, stayed in her room most of the time. Nobody asked for autographs-probably too

busy having their own good time.

(Pamela Fiori / Travel and Leisure.)

Journalistic Writing MCM310

EXCRESCENCE: bankrupt and awkward words)

We have received your order for two lawnmowers, and will send same by rail.

Vs.

We have received your order for two lawnmowers and will send them by rail tomorrow.

We are instituting many meaningful changes in the curriculum.

Vs.

We are changing the curriculum in many significant ways.

INSEPARABLES:

chop and change

hook and crook

betwixt and

tween

shape or form

yes and means

each and every

SLANG:

Saw a pretty corny movie last night. Mary major had a part in it. A tear jerker though

Somebody pinched my brolly when it was falling in bucket.

VERBIAGE:

Give us a fiver. Here you are. Smashing. Ta.

Before: Should the supply of stickers not be sufficient to meet section requirements, application

should be made to this office for a supply of additional copies.

After: if you need more stickers, ask for them.

THE SUFFIX-WISE:

Taxwise

Moneywise

Pricwise

Roadwise

Businesswise

Newswise

Disciplinewise

Careerwse

Weatherwise

Salarywise

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