Diction

Don’t Push the River: Trying Too Hard

February 2, 2011

What does it mean to try too hard when you write?
One way this manifests is through the act of trying to write like writing rather than to write like story-telling.  That is to say, by trying to copy a style of a book that you may not have liked yourself when you read it, but [...]

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Word of the Day: Solecism

January 12, 2011

Uphill Writing: Word of the Day 
Solecism, n.
Definition:  A nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as unflammable  and they was.
Example:   “An accurate report of anything that has ever been said in any parliament would be blather, solecism, verbiage and nonsense.
– “Hansard of the Highlands“, Times (London), February 17, 2001
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Word of the Day: Inveterate

January 11, 2011

Uphill Writing Word of the Day 
Inveterate, adj.
Definition:  1. Firmly and long established; deep-rooted. 2. Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual.
Example: Rocky road was her inveterate choice of ice cream.
Challenge: Use inveterate in a sentence today.
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Words of the Week:Looking Back

January 9, 2011

Uphill Writing Words of the Week  
The punctilious homunculus strove to traduce his teacher, but mirabile dictu, her irenic nature led her to an incarnadine flush of face rather than rampant embarrassment. 
 

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Incarnadine: Word of the Day

January 8, 2011

Uphill Writing Word of the Day 
Incarnadine, adj.
Definition: Of a pinkish or reddish color similar to that of flesh or blood.
Example: We walked upon incarnadine sand, awash in the light of the sunset.
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Homunculus: Word of the Day

January 7, 2011

Uphill Writing Word of the Day 
Homunculus, n.
Definition: A miniature, fully formed individual which adherents of the early biological theory of preformation believed to be present in the sperm cell.
Example: In one aspect of the philosophy of mind, the “Inner Theater“, a tiny homunuculus is required to sit and watch, to perceive, incoming visual stimuli.
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Irenic: Word of the Day

January 6, 2011

Uphill Writing Word of the Day
Irenic, adj.
Definition: Tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory.
Example: Always one to avoid conflict, Julia was the most irenic student in the class.
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Traduce: Word of the Day

January 5, 2011

Uphill Writing Word of the Day 
Traduce, v.
Definition: To speak maliciously and falsely of.
Example: “The love of truth, virtue, and the happiness of mankind are specious pretexts, but not the inward principles that set divines at work; else why should they affect to abuse human reason, to disparage natural religion, to traduce the philosophers as [...]

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Punctilious: Word of the Day

January 4, 2011

Uphill Writing Word of the Day
Punctilious, adj.
Definition: Strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions.
Example: I am punctilious about keeping my workspace clear of clutter.
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Mirabile dictu: Word(s) of the Day

January 3, 2011

Uphill Writing Word of the Day 
Mirabile dictu, Latin
Definition: Strange to say; marvelous to relate
Example: I was struggling to understand the concept, when—mirabile dictu!—I saw it had been before my eyes all along.
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