Hello all, this may sound silly but these days everyone (especially tv adds) say "for free" The reason I ask is, have I had it wrong all my life that if something is free, then we say "this is free" and not this is for free. Otherwise we we would need a bag of "frees" Or did my parents and teachers guide me incorrectly. The other question is, do I now have to write: "Get your hands off of me" or can I still write "get your hands off me"?
I ask because I think I know but am no longer sure. If I am writing then I need to get as much correct as I can. There are more things like this but it would become a list and I think these are the two main ones that bug me.
Or is it just Americanisms? and if this is the case do I have to learn the way they use English.
I hope that makes sense to anyone who reads this post.
Thanks in advance. Regards Paul G
Get your hands off me is still the norm, I think.
Regarding Orwell's rules, I agree strongly with rule 1, not so much rule 2 and 3. You should use long words and padding words if they enhance the rhythm and beauty of your sentences.
Hi, Paul.
I hope Orwell's rules for writing are of help to you.
George Orwell’s 6 rules for writing
1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything barbarous.
I hope that helps.
Good luck.
Couldn't agree more. I hate the dreaded 'grocer's apostrophe'. I don't know about you, but one of my pet hates is that we're losing nouns and verbs. We have horrible phrases like 'there's a disconnect' and one I heard three times in one interview: 'We're thinking of relocationing.'
Having said that, I'm writing a novel, and I started by choosing how each character would talk. I wrote lists of words and expressions that each might uniquely use.' You could have some fun doing that. But unless I want to characterise someone, I absolutely refuse to use 'like' as an adverb. I still can't stand people saying 'it looks like it's going to rain.' (I suppose I should have (or should it be should of?) put Eats Shoots and Leaves as my favourite book--well it is one of them.