Pam says I have to do this meme again:
Grab the closest book to you. Resist the urge to get hold of one of the cooler, intellectual ones! You've gotta be honest. Turn to page 123. Go down five sentences, and then post the next three sentences in your blog. Simple.
Well, the only books in my office are reference books. The nearest two are dictionaries, which obviously don't have sentences, so the closest book with sentences turns out to be The Careful Writer by Theodore M. Bernstein. Published in 1965, this is still an indispensable usage guide. This section on credit is approximately five sentences down on page 123; I'm being a bit lax with counting the sentences:
Although dictionaries give ascribe as one meaning of the verb credit, in good usage the connotation is a favorable one. Credit should not be used for the ascribing of unfavorable things, as in this sentence: "The society seeks to clear the name of Richard, whom history credits with the slaying of two young princes and other killings and crimes."
That's a good one to remember. I can't stand when news announcers say that a particular militant group "takes credit for" a bombing or a shooting.
OK, so now I have to tag three people for this meme: Nina, Scott, and Mark, you're on!
Here is my submission, such as it is: http://scottfeldstein.net/blog/?p=828
Posted by: scott | May 21, 2005 at 05:00 PM
Now that looks like big fun - I might have to "borrow" this meme!
Posted by: Lynda | May 21, 2005 at 11:09 PM
I did this meme too, but mine was mostly dialogue. I read mostly mysteries, and people talk a lot in them!
Posted by: Margaret | May 21, 2005 at 11:26 PM
Oh, you have to tag me with this when I have the uncoolest book of all time right handy, doncha? That's why I haven't done it yet. I'm wondering if I should cheat or not. Stay tuned...
Posted by: nina | May 23, 2005 at 06:05 PM