Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Have you ridden an acoustic bike lately? Write it tight.
Aug 8, 2023
This podcast explores the concept of retronyms, focusing on the surprising ways 'acoustic' is used. It also provides tips for writing tight and concise, eliminating unnecessary words and phrases. A heartwarming family act story is shared and listener appreciation is shown.
17:36
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Quick takeaways
- Acoustic guitar is a retronym used to distinguish plain old guitars from electric guitars, and the term 'acoustic' is now being used to describe non-electric things beyond the musical origins.
- Tight writing means being clear and concise, using only the necessary words to convey the message effectively, and tips for tight writing include avoiding redundancy, eliminating unnecessary modifiers, and using strong verbs.
Deep dives
The Concept of Retronyms
Retronyms are creations that describe something that used to be the only version of its kind, like pork bacon. The term 'retronym' combines retro, meaning before, and nim, meaning name. It was coined by Frank Mankowitz in 1980. Retronyms are not exclusive to English and are found in other languages as well.
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