Grammar Grater®with Luke Taylor |
"This intensifier surfaces repeatedly in flabby writing. In almost every context in which it appears, its omission would result in at most a negligible loss. And in many contexts the idea would be more powerfully expressed without it."
"Let me begin by setting down some of the standard, unopposable uses of very. It is most often used with adverbs and with adjectives "
He was driving the car very carefully.
She wore a very revealing red dress.
He was driving the car carefully.
She wore a revealing red dress.
The movie we saw last night was very very very bad.
Sources: Writing to Inform and Engage: The Essential Guide to Beginning News and Magazine Writing by Conrad C. Fink, Fowler's Modern English Usage by R.W. Burchfield and the Encarta World English Dictionary.
Music from this episode: "At the Bottom of Everything" by Bright Eyes, "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye, and "Very Yes" by Bootsy Collins.
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