I’ve just been reading some fanfiction (not my own!) and I ran across this sentence: “I felt a rough but gentle hand on my shoulder.” Now…am I being picky or unreasonable when I ask…What in blazes does that MEAN???? Rough…but gentle???? Am I missing something? Am I dense? Is it wrong to stop and ask “How can a hand be rough AND gentle?” Or should I say “Rough BUT gentle?”
Geez…You know, I don’t WANT to be a Grammar Nazi, but sometimes…sometimes I just have no choice.
rough but gentle hand
Hi Chris – regarding your statement about the “rough but gentle hand”, even though it sounds like an oxymoron, I’m thinking that maybe the hand was literally rough (as in rough skin from a hard working man), but the touch was gentle. That’s pretty much what I got out of it.
Keep on Posting!!
Lori
Re: rough but gentle hand
Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. I realized that too, when I stopped to think about it. My point is, you shouldn’t have to *stop* to think about it. Good writing should flow, without causing the reader to have to stop and wonder exactly what you meant. You should SAY/WRITE exactly what you mean, in a way that everyone can understand.
Well, you will have to excuse me. I can be a bit of a “Grammar Nazi” at times. I always did well in English class. I’ve found that an interest in language is one of the many things that helps keep life interesting!
Re: rough but gentle hand
I am the same way!! Sometimes I get a bit “grammar obsessed” and find myself mentally correcting other people’s emails. In fact, one time my niece got an invitation that said “your invited” and it drove me crazy. I was like “THIS SHOULD BE YOU’RE INVITED”!!! Also, as I noticed from several emails at work, people have to learn to use commas!!! LOL – just had to vent!!
Lori