Saturday, January 16, 2010

A big word for leaving out a little word

Sometimes creative or academic writers use artistic license in their writing. An example I have recently seen quite a bit is the use of asyndeton. How’s that for a grammar vocabulary word! All it means is that the writer has left out the word and or a similar connecting word. A classic place to use an asyndeton, or an asyndetic writing style, is in a list. To create a sense of wistful incompleteness, suggestive of more to come, a writer might do this:

His eyes were blue, alert, piercing.

Their lives, voices, stories were being discounted, silenced.

Whoa, that last one contains two asyndetons! All this creative license affects the tone of the writing. The same sentences with the word and reinstated sound much more boring and ordinary:

His eyes were alert, blue, and piercing.

Their lives, voices, and stories were being discounted and silenced.

They also sound much more down-to-earth and factual, rather than suggestive and ethereal. So in business, technical, and training text, do I recommend using asyndeton? Absolutely not. But if you are being creative, go for it!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those are the possible values and surely lead students towards better programs which must have been initiated by them for the future success. assignment writers uk

Tareq Hasan said...

While writing is for everybody, technical writing can only be done by the trained ones. People who can do different forms of technical writing, such as business and academic, can make productive use of their skill by doing home-based jobs that can be found online. See more homework help services

Assignment Help said...

Truly, this article is really one of the very best in the history of articles. I am a antique ’Article’ collector and I sometimes read some new articles if I find them interesting.
Assignment Help Brisbane

amc stars said...

tanx عکس نوشته خوشگل برای پروفایل

tanx عکس پروفایل عکس پروفایل خاص

tanx عکس پروفایل شاد پروفایل شاد

Susan said...

Great post i must say and thanks for the information. What are some of the cheapest places to travel to in the world? From Asia to Africa and Europe, Things to do 's got budget breakdowns for the cheapest places.

Unknown said...

Great post I must say and thanks for the information. Read and review my article http://www.instantshift.com/2020/02/14/vector-graphics-advantages/

Jones Morris said...

Interesting and amazing how your post is! It Is Useful and helpful for me That I like it very much, and I am looking forward to Hearing from your next.. read

Unknown said...

It is nice to read such high-quality content in 2010!
لوکس‌ترین هتل های اصفهان

amc stars said...


tanx for post
عکس پروفایل شاد عکس پروفایل زیبا عکس پروفایل غمگین عکس پروفایل عاشقانه عکس نوشته عکس پروفایل خاص
عکس پروفایل دخترونه
عکس پروفایل خفن
https://www.codetools.ir/photos.html

Stanley Hugo said...

Those are the Accounting Services potential qualities and certainly lead understudies towards better projects which have probably been started by them for future achievement.

Anonymous said...

Well-written post! I especially appreciate the example of how omitting a small word can change the meaning of a sentence. A great reminder to proofread carefully. luxury flats in gwalior