Nope? No such luck.
It isn't about spelling, allthow speling iz impourtent.
It's about giving a reader a smooth ride. When I was learning to drive my instructor said that during my test, the way to pass was to give the examiner a smooth ride round the course. He/she should feel safe in my hands.
I also want to read without having to apply the brakes suddenly in order to work out the meaning of a sentence. Clumsy, ostentatious vocabulary is rather like having a big stone hit the windscreen, ambiguity is like sliding over a patch of ice.
Sometimes my progress through a story is impeded by beautiful, imaginative language. I have to stop, go back, read again and maybe again, but isn't it great to stop and admire a wonderful view. And isn't the journey enriched by the pause rather than impoverished?
I just commented on another post about how pretentious people drive me nuts! Pretentious language drives me nuts as well. Beautiful language is different - it doesn't go out of its way to be annoying. Rather - it flows and gives me a picture to enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Jemi!
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