Chapter10

SUMMARY

In this chapter, Zinsser introduces some tips that the writer should be careful of in his writing. In terms of words, the writer should use more active verbs without appended prepositions and eliminate unnecessary adjectives, adverbs and qualifiers in the sentences. It is also necessary to know how to punctuate before writing. Learning to make use of mood changers and contractions in writing and choosing “that” instead of “which” can increase warmth and preciseness of the piece. The writer should also try to avoid concept nouns, creeping nounism and overstatement, for most of them are clutter and bore readers. Credibility is also important for a writer. There are some suggestions for writers in daily life: revising dictations, not competing with others, utilizing subconscious mind and removing troublesome phrases. Paragraphs should be short.

WORDS&PHRASES

This is a chapter of scraps and morsels—small admonitions on many points that I have collected under one, as they say, umbrella.

morsel

a very small piece or amount

a morsel of good news

admonition

a piece of advice that is also a warning to someone about their behaviour

The most common parental admonition must surely be "Don't stay out late".

Well, we all know he’s exaggerating to make a droll point.

droll

Something or someone that is droll is amusing or witty, sometimes in an unexpected way.[WRITTEN]

The band have a droll sense of humour.

Let the humor sneak up so we hardly hear it coming.

sneak up

to get very near someone before they notice you

sneak up on

If someone sneaks up on you, they try and approach you without being seen or heard, perhaps to surprise you or do you harm.[V P P n]

I managed to sneak up on him when you knocked on the door.