TITLE

Viewpoint: Writer's Notebook

AUTHOR(S)

Erb, Lyle L.

PUB. DATE

June 1980

SOURCE

Public Relations Quarterly;Summer80, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p32

SOURCE TYPE

Academic Journal

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

There is nothing wrong with the classical allusion, but when misused it makes what is intended to be superior or refined merely ornate and trite. Thus fine writing becomes bad writing. When a writer finds a quotation, either original or popularized, creeping into his phraseology, he should ask himself if it has meaning in his context. He should choose between the popularized misquotation and the purity of the original, or perhaps no quotation at all. He should know what he is doing and make clear that he knows. Such classical allusions should be used with sophisticated discrimination, and not simply as a cliche that slips almost mechanically onto the page.

ACCESSION #

4479835

Tags: QUOTATIONS;  ALLUSIONS;  LITERATURE;  PHRASEOLOGY;  TERMS & phrases;  SEMANTICS

 

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