3 ms·

Is there a term for this (bad) style of writing or linguistic device where you mention the thing ('purple dragon') in the title/first paragraph and then really

by OJFord 2y ago

Is there a term for this (bad) style of writing or linguistic device where you mention the thing ('purple dragon') in the title/first paragraph and then really force a synonym in the second? > Federal Magistrate Judge Ray Kent of the Western District of Michigan was unamused by a recent complaint (PDF) that prominently featured the aubergine wyrm. (Emphasis mine.)

Wingy 2y ago
You could call it Elegant Variation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elegant_variation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elegant_variation
- OJFord 2y ago
  Exactly that, thank you!
- lilyball 2y ago
  In the case where it's rather forced, you could call it Inelegant Variation instead.
prepend 2y ago
Some people want to be artists but are journalists instead.
default-kramer 2y ago
I realize no one is claiming otherwise, but this writer almost certainly did it intentionally for humorous effect. ("Aubergine wyrm" is just too good to be accidental.) It's like "the lick" in jazz.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
Izkata 2y ago
Using modern terminology, I think it's actually a drake, not a wyrm. Wyrm and dragon were only a synonyms centuries ago, nowadays dragon is an umbrella term for those and more.