back to books Re: doublets / langue / traffic

[sistermagpie]

> > Carol, not "getting" the Tom Swiftie is that's what "blandly" is
> 
> Geoff:
> Sorry, you'll have to explain this one; I'm left scratching my head 
> in puzzlement.

Magpie:
I think Carol is saying that she doesn't understand the meaning behind 
your use of the Tom Swiftie "blandly" in that sentence? Not sure if 
Swiftie confused you, but in case anybody else doesn't know the word--a 
Swiftie or Tom Swiftie refers to an adverb being used after "said," 
usually a pun. Such as "He poked me!" he said pointedly. Or "But who 
turned out the lights?" he said darkly.

I always tend to think of the word as applying to any far-out adverb 
use, but I think that was the original joked. All coming from the Tom 
Swift books where Tom could never just "say" anything.

-m (she said helpfully)