p. 476 | Unnecessary Words

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 7, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 30.

Unnecessary Words.

THE habit of using more words than are needed in the expression of thought is almost universal. Sometimes it takes the form of employing unmeaning exclamations; sometimes that of putting into a sentence words or phrases which do not add to its force or make it clearer; sometimes that of constructing long phrases when short ones would be better. As an example of the first, let any one make a record of the number of times he will hear sentences begun with a "Well!" or an "Oh!" or a "Say!" or some other idle word, during the next hour after reading this article.

To say "Well, I don't think so," means exactly the same as "I don't think so." "Say, will you come with me?" The person addressed will be likely to "say," whether he is commanded to do so or not.

Perhaps there are no more common faults of speech than the unnecessary use of the word "got," and of the phrases "you know," and "says he," or "said I." A story is told of a Frenchman who had been talking with a lady much given to the use of "says he," and its sister phrases. "Do you understand me?" she asked.

"Oui, oui," he replied; "but vat ees dat sezai, sezee? Ees it vat you call to swear?"

The same Frenchman, or another, became much irritated with a gentleman's "you knows," and at last interrupted him.

"Pardon, monsieur, but you say to me, 'You know, you know.' But I do not know. If, zen, I do not know, why say you to me, 'You know?'"

How many of us say "I have got it," when we mean "I have it?" The inveterate use of "got" is illustrated by the manner in which a man once aroused his wife in the morning: "Get up, Jane! Breakfast has got to be got, and you have got to get up and get it."

Bad habits of speech are much easier to acquire than to abandon. One hears "well," "got," and "says he" from a hundred mouths, and unconsciously drops into the habit of using them. As proof of this we suggest that families make an agreement to keep a record for one day, or for one week, of the number of times each member uses either one or all of the needless words we have mentioned. We venture the prediction that if the account be faithfully kept, few of our readers will have an average of less than ten black marks a day, however hard they may try to avoid welling and you-knowing.—Youths' Companion.