Adjectivisation: Difference between revisions

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The crime of taking a perfectly good {{tag|verb}} and converting it into an {{tag|adjective}}, and sticking an inferior {{tag|verb}} in front of it. Often used with the [[passive]] and the word [[of]].
{{a|plainenglish|{{Subtable|''This'' sentence is indicative of [[adjectivisation]]. <br>''This'' one indicates elegant prose. }}}}The lexo-crime of taking a perfectly good [[verb]], having it identify as an [[adjective]] and then demeaning it by sticking an inferior, ''dull'', verb — like be, make, do, give, or worst of all ''[[effect]]'' — in front of it. Dead giveaways constructions include the [[passive]] and the word [[of]].  


This sentence is indicative of [[adjectivisation]]. <br>
{{quote|“I support this proposal”}}
This one indicates elegant prose. <br>
 
{{Seealso}}
becomes
 
{{quote|“I am supportive of this proposal”}}
 
from where it is a short leap to:
{{quote|“Subject to what [[Chip]] thinks, I would be [[inclined]] [[to be]] [[supportive]] [[of]] the proposal as presented in its current form for [[For the time being|the time being]].”}}
 
And bingo, you are set for success in the [[legal department]] of a large financial institution.
{{sa}}
*[[nominalisation]]
*[[nominalisation]]
{{plainenglish}}
This was the 1,900th substantive article posted on this site, at 16:18pm on August 30, 2017. People were having less fun one hundred years ago.

Latest revision as of 18:18, 3 February 2022

Towards more picturesque speech

This sentence is indicative of adjectivisation.
This one indicates elegant prose.

SEC guidance on plain EnglishIndex: Click to expand:
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The lexo-crime of taking a perfectly good verb, having it identify as an adjective and then demeaning it by sticking an inferior, dull, verb — like be, make, do, give, or worst of all effect — in front of it. Dead giveaways constructions include the passive and the word “of”.

“I support this proposal”

becomes

“I am supportive of this proposal”

from where it is a short leap to:

“Subject to what Chip thinks, I would be inclined to be supportive of the proposal as presented in its current form for the time being.”

And bingo, you are set for success in the legal department of a large financial institution.

See also