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Notes on style

  • ALLUSION — an allusion is an indirect reference by word or phrase to a historical, literary, mythological, biblical fact or a fact of everyday life made in the course of speaking or writing. The use of allusion presupposes knowledge of the fact, thing or person alluded to on the part of the reader or listener. As a rule no indication of the source is given. This is one of the notable differences between quota­tion and allusion.

  • 17. Give extensive paraphrase of the conversations between Laura and Gor­don in indirect speech. Try to bring out the gist of the conversation and its emo­tional character. Avoid using "He (she) asked" or "He (she) answered". Con­sult the list of words and choose the ones best suited in each case:

  • 1. to observe, to suggest, to declare, to point out, to remark, to reply, to tell smb in reply, to instruct, to caution, to relate, to add, to hint, to explain, to address, to inform, to promise, to affirm, to admit, to own, to advise, to confess, to demand, to claim, to insist, to warn, to retort, to order, to regret, to forbid, to impress upon, to challenge, to inquire; 2. to shout, to scream, to snap at, to speak sharply; 3. to sneer, to taunt, to mock; 4. to beg, to plead with, to soothe; 5. to whis­per, to murmur, to mumble; 6. to wonder, to be interested, to be sur-

    1. 266

    2. 267

    1. prised, to be displeased, to be angry, to disapprove, to be indignant, to be annoyed, to be irritated, to be resentful, to be furious; 7. in his (her, etc.) opinion; 8. (much) to his (her, etc.) surprise, to his (her, etc.) consternation, to his (her, etc.) dismay; to his (her, etc.) regret, etc.

    2. 18. Write a chatty personal letter to a good friend saying how life has changed since your sister married a year ago. When yon have written the letter, deliver it to another student. He or she should then write an answer to it.

    3.