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{{a|plainenglish|}}{{d|Adverb|/ˈædvɜːb/|n|}}{{quote|“Using adverbs is a mortal sin.” | {{a|plainenglish|{{image|LA confidential|jpg|James Ellroy. No truck with adverbs.}} }}{{d|Adverb|/ˈædvɜːb/|n|}}{{quote|“Using adverbs is a mortal sin.” | ||
:— Elmore Leonard}} | :— Elmore Leonard}} | ||
A word you use when you can’t think of a better [[verb]]. A good writer’s ''capitulation''. | A word you use when you can’t think of a better [[verb]]. A good writer’s ''capitulation''. | ||
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“Jane '''spanked''' the ball through the covers and '''galloped''' to the non-striker’s end.” | “Jane '''spanked''' the ball through the covers and '''galloped''' to the non-striker’s end.” | ||
We call this the “James Ellroy oblique strategy”: the crime writer | |||
stumbled upon it when his editor told him to cut 100 pages from his ''L.A. Confidential'' manuscript. Adamant that removing any characters or plot-lines would kill the story, Ellroy combed the draft nixing every adverb, most adjectives and many verbs, in the process creating a distinctive style he’s stuck with ever since. | |||
{{Sa}} | {{Sa}} | ||
*[[ | *[[Adjective]] |