Comments on: Intensifiers, don’t

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.