In Defense of the Adjective by Norman CorwinIn Defense of the Adjective by Norman Corwinhttp://www.advicetowriters.com/in-defense-of-tadjective-by-no/2009-08-24T04:30:25ZSquarespaceIn Defense of the Adjectivehttp://www.advicetowriters.com/in-defense-of-tadjective-by-no/2009/8/24/in-defense-of-the-adjective.html[Your Name Here]2009-08-24T04:25:09Z2009-08-24T04:25:09ZI beg the privilege of demurring for a few moments against a high-flown disdain for the adjective. We’ve been cautioned by such proven masters as Ernest Hemingway, Clifton Fadiman and Mark Twain, to avoid the adjective as though it were a contagious disease. Here’s Fadiman:

“The adjective is the banana peel of the parts of speech.”

Mark Twain: “As to the adjective, when in doubt, strike it out.”

Hemingway: “If an adjective happens, kill it.”

All of which seems to me a bum rap against the language enjoyed worldwide by people who use a homely but sturdy adjective every day, billions of us: “good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night" in all the languages of our polyglot world; and, by way of reinforcement, most of us rely on convenient adjectives such as “passable, great, terrific” or “lousy.” Not to speak of the bonhomie generated worldwide around Christmas; and by the pleasant modifier in happy New Year.

NORMAN CORWIN

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