The Elements of Style

[leone]

Title: The Elements of Style
Author: leone
Rating: PG
Character(s): Holmes, Watson
Summary: Before Strunk and White, there was John Watson to uphold the principles of good writing.
Warnings: none
Author's Notes: ACD universe. Entry for Watson's Woes July writing prompts; fill for July 5 prompt: "If actions speak louder than words, how is the pen mightier than the sword?"
Word Count: 100

Nichols’s laugh revealed decayed teeth and truly dreadful halitosis.

“We seem to be at an impasse,” he said. “I’ve got all the time in the world, but those papers have only a few hours. Now I have no objection to burning the midnight oil at both ends, but don’t you see that simply writing the documents would kill two birds with one basket? If you simply picked up your pen, you could show how much mightier than words--” but a meaty thud cut off his speech.

Watson grimaced. “I can’t abide a mixed metaphor,” he muttered, rubbing his knuckles.

Comments

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

*snrk*

Neither can I, Doctor Watson. Neither can I!

[leone]

Oddly enough, mixed metaphors have never bothered me that much, but I make up for that with my violent distaste for "misuse" of decimate and unique. (I say "misuse" with scare quotes because the OED shows quotes for decimate meaning "do bad stuff to a large portion of" from 1663, and google ngrams shows that the expression "most unique" goes back 1789 (to say nothing of Holmes himself using the expression!))

[(Anonymous)]

I love this to death. Can't abide a mixed metaphor? Amen, Dr. Watson, and bravo! (And kudos to you too, Leone!) :P

[(Anonymous)]

(Whoops - forgot to sign. This is Scotlandyarder. And I won't apologize for double posting, 'cause a fic about violent defense of English prose deserves to be cheered twice over: bravo!)

[leone]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!