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We’re Not Saying “Very” Anymore
Breaking news, We’re Not Saying “Very” Any More.
I was listening to a wonderful piece on Radio National recently with famed editor, Benjamin Dreyer.
The discussion veered to use of the word “very”, where it was framed not only as a poor substitute for a contextually descriptive phrase, but explained as an appeal to the readers. To present the idea of there being something extra, but playing no hand in illustrating what it is. The prevailing logic being that if you need to state something more emphatically, assigning “very” the job of bolstering the descriptive term afforded to whomever or whatever is being described is not the most convincing method.
Examples:
- Billy was very well behaved today.
- Billy behaved like an angel.
- Martyna’s school report was very good.
- Martyna’s report revealed that she had received As in each of her subjects.
- Hubert was in a very bad mood.
- Hubert felt distressed after an argument with his school friends and refused to talk to his family.
We all love the why.
The benefit of context.
If you’re seeking brevity, the use of very can seem more economical than the second and third examples…
