Will my sofa fit through my living room door?

[Frank Erskine]

Aftereight.

[Andy Hall]

So did Mary really. She's just playing hard to get.

[John Cartmell]

As in overwrong (not overwright or even oberwrought)

And probably underwhelmed. ;-)

[Mary Fisher]

Blech!

[Mary Fisher]

Not my style.

I didn't think it funny or witty or anything because it wasn't artistic!

[Mary Fisher]

Language is a means of communication. If it's not communicating it's failing. That's the fault of the user not the reader.

The 'dynamic' argument is mostly used by those who can't be bothered to use language precisely.

Mary

[John Cartmell]

Presumably you also dislike Shakespere and Carroll too?

Clue the use of language (it's extension) *is* the artistic bit.

[John Cartmell]

Never write about language without *treble* checking the easy words. ;-)

[Rob Morley]

Why don't you scrounge a load of cardboard boxes and make a full-scale model to try it?

[Mary Fisher]

Is that an example of dynamism?

[Mary Fisher]

When will you start?

[Guy King]

The message from Frank Erskine contains these words:

Afterthought? And did you know JonG is in here today as well?

[Guy King]

The message from "Mary Fisher" contains these words:

Aren't those two statements rather contradictory?

In the first you suggest that the speaker should use words in such a way that they can be understood by anyone.

In the second you imply that we should understand correctly used language - but the hidden implication is that no matter how complicated and obtuse provided it's exactly correct then no listener should complain that they don't understand it.

[Frank Erskine]

Yes - I noticed him mooching about...

[<me9]

A charabanc trip from the outmollishments?

[Guy King]

The message from contains these words:

And, it appears, from uk.rec.cars.maintenance, too.