Errors of Style

Circumlocution and verbosity

Circumlocution means to speak around the point whilst verbosity means the use of too many words.

For example:

“I believe that, when we circumambulate an area, we reaffirm our possession thereof, and confirm/renew the presence of the Holy Spirit within the borders of our territory.” could have been written more simply as:

“When we walk around our borders, we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.”

Many of our politicians are guilty of being long winded and thus instead of appearing clever, they are guilty of circumlocution and verbosity.

Ambiguity

A sentence containing more than one meaning is said to be ambiguous. The careless use of a word with a double meaning or the misplacing of a phrase or clause within a sentence can cause doubt regarding the meaning one actually intends to communicate. Sometimes, the result is unintentionally humorous.

When explaining the ambiguity in a sentence, it is best to write down:

· - The intended meaning

· - The unintended meaning

Cliché

A cliché is a figure of speech, a common usage, words and phrases that had been used so often in writing and conversation that it had lost its originality and freshness. Clichés should not be used in your own writing because they take away from the originality and liveliness of communication. They are also often connected with mental laziness and rushed work.

Do these clichés ‘ring a bell’?

• A roaring fire
• A babbling brook
• She was as cool as a cucumber
• Pushing up daisies

Euphemism

A Euphemism is not necessarily an error, unless it makes the meaning unclear.

Euphemism is a technique used in language which comprises replacing an unpleasant, offensive or word with harsh connotations with a less harmful word.

Dying euphemistically

The following inscription was cited in Fritz Spïegl’s Small Book of Grave Humour

Here lies in a horizontal position the outside case of Thomas Hinde, Clock and watch maker, who departed this life wound up in hope of being taken in hand by his Maker and being thoroughly cleaned, repaired and seta-going in the world to come.

1. Can you think of any other euphemisms related to death?

Teacher euphemisms

· James is a lively child.

· Thabo is not achieving according to his potential.

· Rhys prefers extra-curricular activities to those that take place in the classroom.

· Kian is continually engaged in non-mathematical conversations.

· Mashudu could work more neatly.

· Alexander needs to work on his time-management skills.

Pun

A pun is a play on words in which words having the same sound – but different meanings – are used. The reader, or listener, is able to understand both meanings and is therefore able to appreciate the wit involved.

Identify the two words upon which the pun in each of the following lines depends, and explain their separate meanings.

1. Her waistline is definitely of her own chewsing.
2. He sticks with his friends until debt do them part.
3. One of these days he’ll get caught in his own mouthtrap.
4. You could describe nuclear fallout by calling it fission chips.

Satire

Satire is speech or writing which sets out to hold up human foolishness and weakness to ridicule. Satire seeks to expose aspects of human behaviour such as hypocrisy, folly and expedience. By adopting an attitude of scornful amusement towards the quality or person under examination, and by the use of such tools as irony, sarcasm, innuendo, lampooning and scorn, it seeks to induce readers or hearers to reconsider and (ideally) alter their behaviour in regard to the particular characteristic being satirised.