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cover of episode 'Toeing' the line. Metonym versus synecdoche. Ghost town mad

'Toeing' the line. Metonym versus synecdoche. Ghost town mad

2025/2/4
logo of podcast Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
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J
Jim Norrena
M
Mignon Fogarty
S
Sherry Sliwa
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Mignon Fogarty: 我发现很多人在写作时会混淆 'toe the line' 和 'tow the line' 这两个短语。'Toe the line' 的正确拼写是 T-O-E,指的是脚趾。这个短语的起源可以追溯到19世纪,最初的意思是在起跑线上排成一列。随着时间的推移,它的含义演变为遵守规则或服从权威。所以,当你写作时,想象人们站在一条线上,用脚趾触碰它,这样就能记住正确的拼写了。这个短语体现了一种行为准则和纪律,在职场和生活中都非常常见。我希望通过我的解释,大家能够更准确地使用这个短语,避免拼写错误,从而提升写作的专业性和准确性。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter starts with a correction to a previous episode, clarifying the difference between an inaugural address and the State of the Union address. The host explains the confusion and clarifies the correct usage of the terms.
  • The inaugural address is given on the day of inauguration, not the first year in office.
  • The first-year address to congress is not officially called the inaugural State of the Union address.

Shownotes Transcript

  1. If you’ve ever hesitated between ‘toe the line’ and ‘tow the line,’ this episode is for you. We look at the phrase's history to clear up the confusion. Then, we look at metonymy and synecdoche — powerful literary devices that can make your writing more compelling.

 

The metonymy segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing professionally for more than 35 years in the publishing and academic industries within the Bay Area. After earning his MFA in Writing and a UC Berkeley Extension certification in copyediting, he founded TypoSuction.com), an independent writing and editing service. Additionally, he has taught grammar and copyediting intensives and professional proofreading workshops at Media Alliance) and served as events coordinator for Bay Area Editors’ Forum (BAEF)). 

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