rant for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
heartofslash
Jan. 27th, 2005 12:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
salixbabylonExcessive Reflexive Pronoun Use:
Reflexive pronouns are pronouns which refer to the subject of the sentence. They can be used to clarify what's going on (which is good) or to add emphasis (which is almost always bad and you should stop doing it immediately).
Aside from plain old mistakes and improper usage (see link below), the most common mistake is overuse.
ONLY USE REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS PROPERLY.
Used as direct object == GOOD!
Used as emphasis == BAD!
Good:
Aragorn was unwilling to commit himself to marrying Arwen until he had determined whether Legolas could get pregnant and provide heirs.
Bad:
Aragorn himself was actually completely gay.
-- This is correct but not needed! We know Aragorn was completely gay!
In short, excessive use of reflexive pronouns make it obvious that you are trying to sound elegant but actually make you sound like a dork who doesn't know English very well and is trying to impress people. Use reflexive pronouns very very sparingly for emphasis -- no more than once every 5 pages.
Or I myself shall come over and beat you yourselves' heads in. Thank you.
And this is the best page I found explaining it, once I realized I had confused myself. (correct - direct object)
Reflexive pronouns are pronouns which refer to the subject of the sentence. They can be used to clarify what's going on (which is good) or to add emphasis (which is almost always bad and you should stop doing it immediately).
Aside from plain old mistakes and improper usage (see link below), the most common mistake is overuse.
ONLY USE REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS PROPERLY.
Used as direct object == GOOD!
Used as emphasis == BAD!
Good:
Aragorn was unwilling to commit himself to marrying Arwen until he had determined whether Legolas could get pregnant and provide heirs.
Bad:
Aragorn himself was actually completely gay.
-- This is correct but not needed! We know Aragorn was completely gay!
In short, excessive use of reflexive pronouns make it obvious that you are trying to sound elegant but actually make you sound like a dork who doesn't know English very well and is trying to impress people. Use reflexive pronouns very very sparingly for emphasis -- no more than once every 5 pages.
Or I myself shall come over and beat you yourselves' heads in. Thank you.
And this is the best page I found explaining it, once I realized I had confused myself. (correct - direct object)
