hi everyone...i have a question. why are some sentences weirdly written. Like it is so hard to understand. Can someone please explain these sentences in simple everyday language.
1- the breeze served us admirably.
2-But the electorate is as interested in the whys and wherefores of most technical,nonemotional political issues as i am in putting ships in bottles:they do not particularly care.
3-Since the populace at large is more than willing to evaluate delegation of the technical aspects of government to somebody else, it inevitably follows that voting is a negative exercise, not a positive one.
4- I thought nothing of it, at first and for many years,but slowly over time the absence...it will tell. I began to wander from home, first in my thoughts,then my feet took after.
why do these authors make these sentences so complicated. Like it takes me time to read. Thanks for the help.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
1. Meaning might change a bit with context. The breeze helped us in some way....kept us cool, made our boat sail more swiftly, kept a rancid stench away from us...
2. Elected official care as much about the technical aspects of governing as the author cares about building ships in bottles. Not at all. Elected officials only really care about the emotional issues.
3. Since we're all very willing to let other people govern us, voting is a negative thing, not positive.
4. I didn't notice the absence until a lot of time had passed. I thought about leaving home before I actually left.
These are not particularly difficult sentences. Learning how to decipher them comes with time and practice.
There's a passage in On Writing by Stephen King in which he gives a story (something like Goldilocks and the Three Bears) in the bare bones minimum. It provides information, but little enjoyment. He then reminds of us the actual story with the flowery parts of it noted. The whole point of writing well is to convey thoughts, images and emotions well. Authors employ big words and circuitous logic to this end.
I started (but didn't finish) a book on teaching yourself to speed-read, some years ago. They did mention that many people do keep going back and re-reading the same passage, and as far as I recall they said it was one of a number of bad habits which could be corrected with practice. I think there are many books on speedreading, and you would fine it most helpful to read one. It really does speed up your reading without reducing your comprehension of what you have read.
1- The breeze cooled us in a good way (uhh...they liked the breeze. sorry, this one is confusing.)
2- (Made my head hurt. So sorry. Wish i could figure it out.)
3- Since people want to let the government be run by someone other than themselves, voting is pointless.
4- (the second sentence) I went to a different place in my head, and then with my body.
I think they do this to show off their vocab, but it just annoys and confuses people.
Hope this helps!
Hi Momo, Sometimes it is because they are bad writers, sometimes it is because they are from a different age and their way of writing and speaking is not yours. There are times when a reader has to put some effort into reading a passage. I think your example 1. is rather good, but you need to think about it. Check out 'Ulysses' by James Joyce for a famous difficult book.
The answer is simply that the inherent usage of language as used in conjunction to the said question is realized through the collection of verbal anomalies whereupon the intention is implied to be that of the vernacular which is composed of the intricate binding of words.......and stuff.
I don't know. the first one isn't that hard- the breeze kept us cool.
But the other ones are too political for me. I hate when people try to be smart like that, when clearly they're talking in gibberish to everyone.