On the poor use of grammar It's a matter of usage. If a house is off-plumb and rickety and lets in the wind, you blame the mason, not the bricks. Our words are up to the job. It's our syntax that's limiting.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Grammar issues often stem from poor syntax or usage choices, not from the words themselves being inadequate.
- In plain terms
- Blame the structure of your sentences, not the words you chose.
- What can you take from it?
- Fix your syntax before blaming your vocabulary.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When do you blame words instead of structure?
- How can you improve your syntax?
Another view
Sometimes limited vocabulary does genuinely hinder clear expression.
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