Writing Glitch #860

Today’s glitch:

Replace in which with to which.

Delete her (and replace it with them if you like).

Because questions is plural, change answer to answers.

Since this example came from a source that’s more-or-less journalism (the AP Stylebook sometimes differs from The Chicago Manual of Style), you can keep 80% if you like, instead of replacing it with Eighty percent… as long as you rewrite that sentence so the numeral isn’t the first thing in it (because even AP says not to begin a sentence with a numeral).

Like so many “Psychology says” or “WTF fun fact” memes, this one contains much nonsense. (‘Oh, the majority of women say they have at least once in their lives asked a rhetorical question, so this proves that women always know the answer before they ask you something!’) I don’t have a specific number handy to quote at you, but you can rest assured that the majority of men also ask rhetorical questions sometimes.

Eighty percent of women ask questions to which they already know the answers. This is why it’s best to tell the truth.

(Now I have a Depeche Mode song running through my head…)

 

 

 

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About Thomas Weaver

For several years, I’ve been putting my uncanny knack for grammar and punctuation, along with an eclectic mental collection of facts, to good use as a Wielder of the Red Pen of Doom (editor). I'm physically disabled, and I currently live with my smugly good-looking twin Paul, who writes military science fiction and refuses to talk about his military service because he can’t. Sometimes Paul and I collaborate on stories, and sometimes I just edit whatever he writes. It's worked out rather well so far. My list of non-writing-related jobs from the past includes librarian, art model, high school teacher, science lab gofer… Although I have no spouse or offspring to tell you about, I do have eight cats. I currently spend my time blogging, reading, editing, and fending off cats who like my desk better than my twin’s.
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1 Response to Writing Glitch #860

  1. M. Oniker says:

    Good song. And, ppppth, 80%? Nah, women are always right. Right? Right? Yup, right.

    So, anyway, according to this, 20% of women do not ask questions to which they already know the answer? Ever? Huh. 80% of the time women ask questions to which they… that’s weird, too. Really, shouldn’t the plan be to basically tell the truth anyway, regardless of the gender of the person asking the question? What’s the percentage of men who ask questions when they already know the answer? Is that related to mansplaining? If that is a writing prompt, it could prompt a lot of writing.

    Liked by 1 person

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