Short Stories: May 09, 2007 Issue [#1698]
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  Edited by: iKïyå§ama Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter


Short Story Newsletter


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Goobledygook


Once precision is abandoned as a linguistic or literary virtue, vague generalization is one of the two remaining possibilities, gibberish being the second.
                             — Wendell Berry

If you've had the pleasure of reading through or making sense of such things as tax instructions or insurance policies, it's easy to get frustrated with cluttered prose. The term goobledygook - as funny as it might look and sound - refers to nonsensical language, sound that resembles language but has no meaning. It also means official, professional and pretentious verbiage. In plain language, it refers to something being expressed in an overly complicated matter. There are many other terms for this, some of which you might have heard before: jargon, bureaucratic language, double-talk, officialese, federalease, and doublespeak. It's full of abstractions, indirect words, and convulated constructions, devoid of humanity and sensitivity. It's easy to recognize gobbledygook by its pomposity and wordiness. For example -

GOOBLEDYGOOK: The committee must implement the operationalizing of those mechanisms and modes of activity and strategies necessary to maintain the viability of the institution's fiscal management operations.

REVISED: The committee must take measures to ensure the institution's financial security.

See the difference? So why do so many writers tend to rely on gobbledygook? Mostly because they have nothing of substance to say or they do not understand their subjects or they try to protect themselves from criticism of their ideas; they do not really want anyone to understand what they say, or they believe, rightly or wrongly, that the inflated prose impresses readers. In other words, the 'bigger' words you know, the 'smarter' you are. Hmmm...not so much. Here are a few examples of words and phrases, in goobledygook, that you should try to avoid as much as possible.

Goobledygook -- Plain English
initiate -- begin
terminate -- end
administrate -- administer
summarization -- summary
routinization -- routine
at this point in time -- now
prior to -- before
subsequent to -- after
a majority of -- most
a number of -- some
of considerate magnitude -- large
due to the fact that -- because
in such a manner as to -- to
in the neighborhood of -- about
in connection with -- about
as a result -- so

When your reader has to try to make sense of what you're writing, frustration, lack of interest and even annoyance sets in, and that is the last thing you want to do as a writer. Remember to keep your words as simple as possible, yet still managing to have a clear command of the language without alienating your audience. *Smile*

Think you're good at weeding out the goobledygook from a narrative? Then try the exercise below *Down* when you have the time.


Editor's Picks

Rain? Not on My Parade! Open in new Window. (E)
From bad day to joyous!
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Fire to Ashes Open in new Window. (13+)
A dark to light story
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Ask & Answer

EXERCISE: Identify the goobledygook in the following passage and re-write in plain English. Good luck!
         It has been shown at this point in time that contributions to the community improvement fund have fallen short of expectations. We had envisionized reaching our goal during the course of our fund-raising drive to accumulate the optimum number of contributions. Even though we utilized all feasible resources subsequent to the initiation of the drive, the requisite amount of money has not materialized, and we find ourselves with a deficit of considerable magnitude. It is clear that a plan of action must be activated that will minimize our problems. We must be cognizant of improved techniques that can expedite our endeavors in the future.

FEEDBACK!


*Star*GREAT newsletter. - Tammy~Catchin Up~ Author Icon
Thanks, Tammy! *Bigsmile*

*Star*The baseball, brought to mind the time when I was a kid and I borrowed a bat, ball, and glove from the neighbor kids. We were too poor for our own. My dad made me return it to them because we didn't accept charity from the likes of them... - Lou-Here By His Grace Author Icon
That's great! See how one simple image is able to evoke such memories? Those make for excellent stories. Thanks for sharing. *Smile*

*Star*Well done on such a wonderful newsletter! I love the way you've managed to pull the readers in and teach us without actually confusing us, a hard feat when you're explaining something to me! Great job *Smile* - daydreamer13
*Bigsmile* That is a lovely compliment considering how much people think I barely make sense when I actually open my mouth. *Laugh* I'm glad the newsletter was helpful!

*Star*Great ideas about using images. I tend to use them for characterisation, by searching random names on google until I find someone about whom a story comes to mind that I want to write.
Thanks. - bazilbob

That is another excellent technique to hone your writing skills. Good job! *Smile*

Thanks for all the comments! Please feel free to keep sending them in. I enjoy reading your feedback.


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