re:<nettime> language virus

[Michael H Goldhaber <mgoldh@well.com>]

The way(s) in which you write or say something is not exactly the same
as how you do it, in two ways. The first is simply one of emphasis,
in which the longer locution gives greater weight to the thought. The
second is that the former way focuses on process as opposed to all the
other attributes implied in "how." "How is that cooked?" for instance
is a different question from the admittedly clumsy "what was the way
in which that was cooked?" So an effort to be precise may be involved
here. But also, "with considerable stylistic improvement" is to some
degree a moving target. Is it the same as "writing better?" According
to what standard? Or, why?

Best,
Michael

On Aug 23, 2007, at 10:38 AM, keith@thememorybank.co.uk wrote:

> I wonder if nettimers can help me with a query that I have never until
> now turned into an enquiry. I have noticed for years the growing
> insertion of the phrase 'the way(s) in which' into English sentences.
> In almost all cases the three-letter monosyllable 'how' can be
> substituted without loss of meaning and with considerable stylistic
> improvement.



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