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February 6, 2001
Expository Patterns
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This week we begin a series on expository patterns by examining the ways in which writers can develop a paragraph or make a point. In this issue we will start with "comparison and contrast." Writers can choose solely to compare similar things, to contrast dissimilar things, or to combine a comparison-contrast strategy.
1. Comparison looks at the similarities between two things which may be very similar or dissimilar. For example, an agriculturalist might write about the similarities between two types of oranges to show how one type might grow as well as another when transplanted into a new environment.
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2. Contrast is used to show differences between two subjects. For example, a military general might study two successful battle strategies to look for distinguishing characteristics of each.
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3. An "a + b" pattern of comparison-contrast, which separates facts about two subjects, can help readers distinguish between the strengths or weaknesses of both:
EXAMPLE:
a:
Collies make great pets. They are faithful to their masters and quite good with children. Their inbred herding instincts can be useful in managing livestock.
b:
Sheepdogs also are a good breed of dog for farm life. While not as fun-loving as collies, they remain devoted to their owners and demonstrate great patience with young children. Their herding skills have been useful to humanity for centuries.
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4. But the "a/b" pattern uses a point-by-point contrast to closely compare the main points of two subjects:
EXAMPLE:
(a) Collies make great pets. (b) So do sheepdogs. (a) Collies are faithful to their masters and quite good with children. (b) Sheepdogs, on the other hand, are not as fun-loving as collies yet remain devoted to their owners and demonstrate great patience with young children. (a) Collies have inbred herding instincts that can be useful in managing livestock, (b) but the herding skills of sheepdogs have been useful to humanity for centuries.
Next week we will look at another useful expository pattern.
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SPELLING OR WRITING TIP
Be careful when using symbols in your writing. Marks such as @, #, %, or & may not be acceptable in certain forms of writing, especially in professional or academic documents. When in doubt, consult a writing guide or your department's guidelines.
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NEW WORD OF THE WEEK:
BETOKEN (be-to-ken) verb: to show by a visible sign.
Denise's many hours of overtime betoken a dedicated employee.
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: In a researched document, what do abbreviations like ibid. and op. cit. mean?
GRAMMARCHECK: "Ibid" stands for the Latin "ibidem" meaning "in the same place." Another Latin expression, "opere citato," is reflected in the abbreviation "op cit," which means "in the work cited."
Abbreviations like these were used in the past to show references to particular sources in a research document. However, in recent years these terms have faded into obscurity. See the relevant style guide (such as Modern Language Association or Chicago Manual of Style) for current guidelines.
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QUESTION: I'm still confused about the differences between "lie" and "lay."
GRAMMARCHECK: Keep in mind that "lie" means to "recline" while "lay" means "to place" something. Part of the problem is that the present tense of "lay" is the same as the past tense of "lie." Here is a list with examples:
LIE (to recline):
lie--Do you want to lie down?
lay--She lay down for awhile after lunch.
lain--The dog has lain in the road all night.
lying--Wilbert has been lying there all this time.
LAY (to place):
lay--May I lay my hat on this table?
laid--Susan laid her blanket on the sofa.
laid--That boy has laid his snake on the porch too often.
laying--Becky has been laying the baby down for a nap every day.
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QUESTION: Do you know if there are spaces before and after a dash? How about spaces in front of ellipses?
GRAMMARCHECK: When you type a dash, join two hyphens without spaces before or after them:
It was Pedro--not Juan--who discovered the theft.
"Ellipses" is the plural form of an ellipsis mark. Ellipses are used to show that one or more words have been omitted from a quoted passage or to show a break in thought. Ellipsis marks are three periods interspersed with spaces, the first space placed immediately after the last quoted word before the omitted portion:
EXAMPLE:
Instead of this:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Use ellipses for this:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are . . . equal."
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When you use a complete statement before the omitted portion, place a period at the end of the sentence before the ellipsis mark so that you have four periods instead of three--the first of which follows immediately after the last word before the omitted portion:
"My country, tis of thee. . . . Of thee I sing."
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QUESTION: In the January 23 issue, you said in answer to a question, "That pair need watching!" It didn't sound right so I took it as a typo. Was it a typo?
GRAMMARCHECK: Actually, no, it wasn't a typo. Oddly enough, the word "pair" (as a noun) can be followed either by a singular or plural verb, depending on whether the two items of the pair form one entity or two. For example, a pair of shoes appears to be nearly the same, but one fits the right foot while the other fits the left. A pair of two people only suggests there are two of them together, not that they are alike or form an entity greater than each individual. (Notice how I switched verb forms to suit the appropriate use of "pair" in different sentences?)
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QUESTION: The odd word assortment punctuated in a recent issue is incorrect. It should read as follows:
That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is.
It should be punctuated thus:
That that is, is; that that is not, is not; is that it. It is.
The source of the quote is the novel FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON by Daniel Keyes.
GRAMMARCHECK: Thanks for an insightful twist to this curious word puzzle. While we stand by our suggested punctuation of last week, we agree that your example makes sense as well.
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