Choice of words

Submitted by George Adamowicz (Australia), Aug 30, 2005 at 19:00

Another good article, but spoilt somewhat (for me) because of the incorrect choice of words. "Diurnal" is wrong in the context, and should have been replaced with something like "This can be seen daily ..."

"Extrude" means "force a metal through a die". This is a colourful choice of phrase, but one that would mean little to most people and would raise a strange image to those for whom the meaning is clear.

In polemics, discussion and simple dialogue, the precise use of words - as you yourself have pointed out in idscussing the meaning of "militant" and "jihad" - is critically important. Generally your writing is exemplary in its freedom from obscurity: it is simply easy to comprehend. Here it seems you let the urge to be florid get the better of you and the message is thereby weakened.

Regards
George Adamowicz
Melbourne, Australia

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