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Lit Thursday: Why write well?

Posted by Siel in art/lit/music, books (Thursday October 29, 2009 at 7:36 am)

Fake AP Stylebook

>> The Fake AP Stylebook would have you know that:

Dates should be formated as MM/DD/YY except for the years 1990 through 1992, which should be denoted in ‘Hammer Time.’

And

When writing about a stabbing victim’s “fountain of blood,” be specific. What kind- Drinking? Soda? Decorative?

And

“Fuckhead” should only be capitalized at the start of sentence. When referring to a talk radio host it is hyphenated.

More at Wired.

>> At How to write badly well, each post title’s a tip for writing badly well, and each post’s an example of that tip implemented. (via kottke) For example, the post “Always use a thesaurus” begins:

She manipulated the garment in a cogitative mode.
‘Hmm,’ she vocalised. ‘This attire is verifiably marvellous. What is it constituted from?’
‘From the most meritorious velveteen,’ defined her interlocutor, simpering coincidentally.

>> A new book called The Lexicographer’s Dilemma’s about the history of the notion of proper English. Tell me how you feel about:

those split infinitives, the most famous of which is spoken by William Shatner in the opening credits of the TV series “Star Trek”: “To boldly go where no man has gone before.”

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4 Comments

4 comments for Lit Thursday: Why write well? »

  1. I think it depends on the split infinitive. Sometimes it seems clumsy and lazy, and sometimes it works. The opening credits to Star Trek are a great example of the latter, IMO–relocating “boldly” makes the statement weaker and…wait for it…less bold.

    Comment by How Green Is My Valley — October 29, 2009 @ 10:42 am

  2. I am so in love with the Fake AP Stylebook. Every tweet makes me pee on myself. Kinda messy but fun anyway. Michael sent it to me a few days ago. It’s my new addiction since I can’t drink.

    Comment by Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish — October 30, 2009 @ 12:35 am

  3. I’ve heard a lot about the Fake Ap Stylebook this week. Those examples are SO funny :-)

    Comment by Kim Woodbridge — October 31, 2009 @ 8:32 am

  4. Split infinitives don’t bother me so much, but misuse of less/fewer irks me a little for no particular reason.

    I too heart Fake AP Stylebook and wish it’d tweet more often! :)

    Comment by Siel — November 2, 2009 @ 6:43 pm

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