Conspiracy Theories

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 97399

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:

> Carol:
> While I agree entirely about inadequately snipped posts full of
> repetitious material and brilliant discoveries being made for the
> 200th time (okay, that's my hyperbole, not yours!), I do think 
there's
> something to be said for examining seemingly insignificant details. 
> The passive voice is one such
> important detail. Why? Because its chief use is to obscure meaning
> (which it also does if used carelessly rather than deliberately).
> That's why why sociologists love it and bureaucrats like Mafalda
> Hopkirk of the MoM use it so frequently, and it's also why English
> teachers try to pound it out of their students with red pen. 

Geoff:
This reminds me of a quote I always keep at the back of my mind about 
the passive tense. It occurs in John Wyndham's brilliant sci-fi 
novel "The Kraken Wakes" - well worth reading although it's quite old 
now.

'"For present purposes, the danger area is being reckoned as anything 
over four thousand." said Dr.Matet.
"What?" I exclaimed wildly.
"Fathoms" added Dr.Matet.
"Twenty-four thousand feet, darling. you multiply by six," said 
Phyllis kindly. She ignored my thanks and went on to Dr.Matet:
"And what depth did you advise as marking the danger area, Doctor?"
"How do you know I did not advise four thousand fathoms, Mrs.Watson?"
"Use of the passive, Doctor Matet - 'is being reckoned'" Phyllis told 
him smiling sweetly.
"And there are people who claim that French is the subtle language," 
he said.'

Since reading that many years ago, I have always been suspicious of 
the passive tense......

Beware of JKR's bearing passives. (Might lead to your Trojan horse).