Rhett Butler:
"Scarlett, I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as the new. What is broken is broken--and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken place as long as I lived..."
Friday, June 12, 2009
Redundancy
In our day-to-day lives, we come across so many redundant words that they become a habit. However, proper care should be taken to avoid redundancy in written language. Here are some very common redundant words, which we come across in our daily lives:
adequate enough
advance planning
aggregate together
brief in duration
combine together
completely full [empty]
consensus of opinion
contemporaneous in age
count [divide] up
covered over\
distinguish the difference
each individual personal
eliminate altogether
empty out
equally as well as
estimated at about
fellow colleagues
fewer in number
filled in capacity
first initiated
fuse together
general rule
herein we describe
interval of time
large [small, bulky] in size
lift up
major breakthrough
near to
out of
outside of
oval [square, round] in shape
major breakthrough
near to
out of
outside of
oval [square, round] in shape
own personal view
past history
personal friend
period of time, time period, point in time
precedes in time
predict in advance
raised up
reassessed again
red in color
rough [smooth] in texture
split up
sum total
tender to the touch
true fact
uniformly consistent
2 halves
12 noon [midnight]
2 out of 12
adequate enough
advance planning
aggregate together
brief in duration
combine together
completely full [empty]
consensus of opinion
contemporaneous in age
count [divide] up
covered over\
distinguish the difference
each individual personal
eliminate altogether
empty out
equally as well as
estimated at about
fellow colleagues
fewer in number
filled in capacity
first initiated
fuse together
general rule
herein we describe
interval of time
large [small, bulky] in size
lift up
major breakthrough
near to
out of
outside of
oval [square, round] in shape
major breakthrough
near to
out of
outside of
oval [square, round] in shape
own personal view
past history
personal friend
period of time, time period, point in time
precedes in time
predict in advance
raised up
reassessed again
red in color
rough [smooth] in texture
split up
sum total
tender to the touch
true fact
uniformly consistent
2 halves
12 noon [midnight]
2 out of 12
Let's Learn Grammar
The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter - it is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
- Mark Twain
Most of the times we tend to forget the importance of grammar in written and spoken language. Although spoken language can be spared, but one needs to be very careful with written language. I, recently, learned some exciting and unknown rules of English grammar. All these are from two renowned books (thanks to my Director at Aptara who gave me these books to read) viz, Chicago Manual of Style and AMA Manual of Style.
# Who is used as a subject and Whom as an object.
# The word that introduces a restrictive clause, one that is essential to the meaning of the noun it describes. The word which introduces a nonrestrictive clause, one that adds more information but is not essential to the meaning. The word which is preceded by a comma.
#Some indefinite pronouns (eg, each, either, neither, one, no one, everyone, someone, nobody, everybody, somebody) always take singular verbs; some (eg, several, few, both, many) always take the plural; and some (eg, some, any, none, all, and most) may take either singular or plural. They use the singular verb when the pronoun refers to a singular word and the plural when the pronoun refers to a plural word, even when the noun is omitted.
#Either/or is used with only 2 comparators.
#The number/the total is singular and a number of/a total of is plural.
#The question mark,like the exclamation mark, is never combined with another question mark, exclamation mark, period, semicolon, or comma.
#Rhetorical questions, indirect or reported speech do not require a question mark.
#Clauses introduced by yet and so and subordinating conjunctions (eg, while, where, after, whereas) are preceded by a comma.
#Use comma to set off parenthetical words, phrases, questions, and other expressions that interrupt the continuity of a sentence, eg, therefore, moreover, on the other hand, of course, nevertheless, after all, consequently, however.
#Use a semicolon between main clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb (eg, also, besides, furthermore, then, however, thus, hence, indeed, yet) or a coordinating conjunction (eg, and, but, or, for, nor), if one of the clauses has internal punctuation or is considerably long.
#For clarity, use semicolons between items in a complex or lengthy enumeration withing a sentence or an enumeration that contains serial comma in at least one of the items listed.
#The colon is the strongest of the three marks, in comma, semicolon and colon, used to indicate a decided pause or break in thought. It separates 2 main clauses in which the second clause amplifies or explains the first.
# Where not to use a colon:
1. Do not use a colon if the sentence is continuous without it.
2. Avoid using a colon to separate a preposition from its object.
# Where to use a colon:
1. Use a colon to introduce a formal or extended quotation.
2. Use a colon to introduce an enumeration, especially after anticipatory phrasing such as thus, as follows, the following.
# Hyphens should be used only as an aid to the reader's understanding, primarily to avoid ambiguity.
# DO not use quotation marks when emphasizing a word, when using a non-English word, when mentioning a term as a term, or when defining a term. In all these cases, Italics are preferred.
# A word or phrase following so-called should NOT be enclosed in quotation marks.
# Common words used in a technical sense should BE placed in quotation marks.
# Do not use quotation marks with yes or no.
# Collective nouns may take either singular or plural verbs, depending on whether the word refers to the group as a unit or to its members as individuals.
# Association is the connection between two variables in which one does not necessarily cause the other. Relationship implies cause and effect.
# Can is used for ability or power to do something, may for permission to do it. A second meaning of may refers to likelihood or possibility.
# Comprise means to be composed of. The phrase comprised of is NEVER correct. ( I learned this at InfoPro...courtesy my Manager)
# Continual means to recur at regular and frequent intervals, continuous means to go on without pause or interruption.
# (This is one is TERRIFIC!) Disinterested and uninterested are NOT SYNONYMS. To be disinterested is to be unbiased or impartial; to be uninterested is to unconcerned, indifferent; or inattentive.
So, a judge who is disinterested is appreciated but one who is uninterested is not. :)
# eg - from Latin exempli gratia
ie - from Latin id rest
# Fewer and less are NOT interchangeable. Use fewer for number (individual persons or things) and less for volume or mass (indicating degree or value).
# To imply is to suggest or to indicate or express indirectly. To infer is to conclude or to draw conclusions from facts; statements, or indications.
# Euphemism - from the Greek eu, "good," and pheme, "voice".
# The words and phrases derived from other languages that have not become part of standard English should be italicized.
Sexist language, racist language, theistic language - all are typical of the policing languages of mastery, and cannot, do not, permit new knowledge or encourage the mutual exchange of ideas.
- Toni Morrison
- Mark Twain
Most of the times we tend to forget the importance of grammar in written and spoken language. Although spoken language can be spared, but one needs to be very careful with written language. I, recently, learned some exciting and unknown rules of English grammar. All these are from two renowned books (thanks to my Director at Aptara who gave me these books to read) viz, Chicago Manual of Style and AMA Manual of Style.
# Who is used as a subject and Whom as an object.
# The word that introduces a restrictive clause, one that is essential to the meaning of the noun it describes. The word which introduces a nonrestrictive clause, one that adds more information but is not essential to the meaning. The word which is preceded by a comma.
#Some indefinite pronouns (eg, each, either, neither, one, no one, everyone, someone, nobody, everybody, somebody) always take singular verbs; some (eg, several, few, both, many) always take the plural; and some (eg, some, any, none, all, and most) may take either singular or plural. They use the singular verb when the pronoun refers to a singular word and the plural when the pronoun refers to a plural word, even when the noun is omitted.
#Either/or is used with only 2 comparators.
#The number/the total is singular and a number of/a total of is plural.
#The question mark,like the exclamation mark, is never combined with another question mark, exclamation mark, period, semicolon, or comma.
#Rhetorical questions, indirect or reported speech do not require a question mark.
#Clauses introduced by yet and so and subordinating conjunctions (eg, while, where, after, whereas) are preceded by a comma.
#Use comma to set off parenthetical words, phrases, questions, and other expressions that interrupt the continuity of a sentence, eg, therefore, moreover, on the other hand, of course, nevertheless, after all, consequently, however.
#Use a semicolon between main clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb (eg, also, besides, furthermore, then, however, thus, hence, indeed, yet) or a coordinating conjunction (eg, and, but, or, for, nor), if one of the clauses has internal punctuation or is considerably long.
#For clarity, use semicolons between items in a complex or lengthy enumeration withing a sentence or an enumeration that contains serial comma in at least one of the items listed.
#The colon is the strongest of the three marks, in comma, semicolon and colon, used to indicate a decided pause or break in thought. It separates 2 main clauses in which the second clause amplifies or explains the first.
# Where not to use a colon:
1. Do not use a colon if the sentence is continuous without it.
2. Avoid using a colon to separate a preposition from its object.
# Where to use a colon:
1. Use a colon to introduce a formal or extended quotation.
2. Use a colon to introduce an enumeration, especially after anticipatory phrasing such as thus, as follows, the following.
# Hyphens should be used only as an aid to the reader's understanding, primarily to avoid ambiguity.
# DO not use quotation marks when emphasizing a word, when using a non-English word, when mentioning a term as a term, or when defining a term. In all these cases, Italics are preferred.
# A word or phrase following so-called should NOT be enclosed in quotation marks.
# Common words used in a technical sense should BE placed in quotation marks.
# Do not use quotation marks with yes or no.
# Collective nouns may take either singular or plural verbs, depending on whether the word refers to the group as a unit or to its members as individuals.
# Association is the connection between two variables in which one does not necessarily cause the other. Relationship implies cause and effect.
# Can is used for ability or power to do something, may for permission to do it. A second meaning of may refers to likelihood or possibility.
# Comprise means to be composed of. The phrase comprised of is NEVER correct. ( I learned this at InfoPro...courtesy my Manager)
# Continual means to recur at regular and frequent intervals, continuous means to go on without pause or interruption.
# (This is one is TERRIFIC!) Disinterested and uninterested are NOT SYNONYMS. To be disinterested is to be unbiased or impartial; to be uninterested is to unconcerned, indifferent; or inattentive.
So, a judge who is disinterested is appreciated but one who is uninterested is not. :)
# eg - from Latin exempli gratia
ie - from Latin id rest
# Fewer and less are NOT interchangeable. Use fewer for number (individual persons or things) and less for volume or mass (indicating degree or value).
# To imply is to suggest or to indicate or express indirectly. To infer is to conclude or to draw conclusions from facts; statements, or indications.
# Euphemism - from the Greek eu, "good," and pheme, "voice".
# The words and phrases derived from other languages that have not become part of standard English should be italicized.
Sexist language, racist language, theistic language - all are typical of the policing languages of mastery, and cannot, do not, permit new knowledge or encourage the mutual exchange of ideas.
- Toni Morrison
Friday, June 5, 2009
Objectivism
Objectivism holds that reality exists independent of consciousness; that individual persons are in contact with this reality through sensory perceptions; that human beings can gain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive and deductive logic; that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness or rational interest.
Objectivism holds that the mind cannot create reality, but rather, it is a means of discovering reality.
Objectivism holds that the mind cannot create reality, but rather, it is a means of discovering reality.
Romantic Realism
Coined by Ayn Rand. Rand defined romantic realism as a portrayal of things and persons "as they might and ought to be." "Might be" implied realism as contrasted with mere fantasy. "Ought to be" implied a moral vision and a standard of beauty and virtue.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Quotes
Oscar Wilde
1. Genius lasts longer than beauty.
2. Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is the faithless who know love's tragedies.
3. There is no such thing as a good influence. All influence is immoral - immoral from the scientific point of view. Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul, He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passion, His virtues are not real to him, His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of someone else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him. The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for."
4. Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul
5. You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know.
6. The only difference between a caprice and a lifelong passion is that the caprice lasts a little longer.
7. To get back one's youth, one merely has to repeat one's follies.
8. The only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
9. Women represent triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals.
10. The people who love only once in their lives are really the shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom or their lack of imagination. Faithfulness is to the emotional life what consistency is to the life of the intellect - simply a confession of failure!
11. It is only the sacred things that are worth touching.
12. When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self and one always ends by deceiving others.
13. People are fond of giving away what they need the most. It is what I call the depth of generosity.
14. There are two kinds of people who are really fascinating - people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.
15. A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
16. Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
17. Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
18. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.
19. All great ideas are dangerous.
20. A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
Khaled Hosseini
1. It always hurts more to have and lose than to not have in the first place.
2. Of all the hardships a person has to face, none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting.
3. Writers, especially the beginners, need to be chain readers. And lastly, write every day. Write about things that get under your skin and keep you up at night.
4. It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime.
5. Better to be hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.
Rabindranath Tagore (The Victory)
What God builds man adds his own decorations.
Richard Bach
1. To bring anything into your life, imagine that it is already there.
2. You teach the best what you most need to learn.
3. Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself. Being true to anyone else or anything else is not only impossible, but the mark of a false Messiah!
4. A professional writer is an amateur who did not quit!
5. Allow the world to live as it chooses, and allow yourself to live as you choose.
1. Genius lasts longer than beauty.
2. Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is the faithless who know love's tragedies.
3. There is no such thing as a good influence. All influence is immoral - immoral from the scientific point of view. Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul, He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passion, His virtues are not real to him, His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of someone else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him. The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for."
4. Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul
5. You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know.
6. The only difference between a caprice and a lifelong passion is that the caprice lasts a little longer.
7. To get back one's youth, one merely has to repeat one's follies.
8. The only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
9. Women represent triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals.
10. The people who love only once in their lives are really the shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom or their lack of imagination. Faithfulness is to the emotional life what consistency is to the life of the intellect - simply a confession of failure!
11. It is only the sacred things that are worth touching.
12. When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self and one always ends by deceiving others.
13. People are fond of giving away what they need the most. It is what I call the depth of generosity.
14. There are two kinds of people who are really fascinating - people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.
15. A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
16. Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
17. Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
18. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.
19. All great ideas are dangerous.
20. A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
Khaled Hosseini
1. It always hurts more to have and lose than to not have in the first place.
2. Of all the hardships a person has to face, none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting.
3. Writers, especially the beginners, need to be chain readers. And lastly, write every day. Write about things that get under your skin and keep you up at night.
4. It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime.
5. Better to be hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.
Rabindranath Tagore (The Victory)
What God builds man adds his own decorations.
Richard Bach
1. To bring anything into your life, imagine that it is already there.
2. You teach the best what you most need to learn.
3. Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself. Being true to anyone else or anything else is not only impossible, but the mark of a false Messiah!
4. A professional writer is an amateur who did not quit!
5. Allow the world to live as it chooses, and allow yourself to live as you choose.
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