Comments on: Intensifiers, don’t

By: Another perspective

Another perspective — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:03:23 +0000

I agree with Dave Green on this one and think this is about individual preferences on how we should express our feelings, rather than a wrong or right way to make a point.

“Extremely unreasonable” does not add much to “unreasonable”, because the word is quite unambiguous. Most people will understand what it means for something to be unreasonable, i.e. not reasonable.

However, people can be “upset” to varying degrees, from being slightly irritated to becoming depressed. I think a well chosen intensifier, for this situation, can help to define the word it precedes.

I agree with Dave; “I was upset” can take on an almost apologetic tone, as it can sound like someone making excuses for their overreaction to something.

By: Dave Green

Dave Green — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:56:09 +0000

Obviously I’m in the minority here! Okay, so there’s no real difference from “unfair” and “very unfair” but, for me, the latter examples almost seem apologetic! If someone told me they were upset then I’d assume that there wasn’t anything particularly wrong. If they said they were very upset I would take more notice!

By: Arazana

Arazana — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:22:43 +0000

I agree. Although it sometimes becomes an unconscious habit as you’ve programmed yourself to think that intensifiers somehow have more of an impact (shamelessly incorrect, though!)

By: Simon Myerson

Simon Myerson — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:53:42 +0000

I lost track of the number of times I told my pupils this. It is spot on advice, and even now I still proofread my own stuff to take the offensive words out.