tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post2393711586381431361..comments2023-09-05T12:51:25.656-05:00Comments on edittorrent: BelieEdittorrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-6718727518841428792009-11-03T08:35:32.243-06:002009-11-03T08:35:32.243-06:00I"m using my I'm with Murphy stamp here :...I"m using my I'm with Murphy stamp here :)Leonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11786326364037397675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-19110949463211619642009-11-02T18:59:59.469-06:002009-11-02T18:59:59.469-06:00Alicia, try this
His firm step, clear eyes, and s...Alicia, try this<br /><br />His firm step, clear eyes, and straight posture belied his age. <br /><br />Take away your "were" and "by."Jean Wogamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14464446396668373473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-65627137166496571692009-11-02T18:49:35.218-06:002009-11-02T18:49:35.218-06:00So what about:
His firm step, clear eyes, and str...So what about:<br /><br />His firm step, clear eyes, and straight posture were belied by his age? <br /><br />Okay, still the passive problem. <br /><br />Well, you know, this is why I don't like "belie". It gives me a headache.<br />AliciaEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-87325781610958566472009-11-02T17:54:39.065-06:002009-11-02T17:54:39.065-06:00I always have to look this word up when I use it. ...I always have to look this word up when I use it. My dictionary has the primary definition as "to give a false representation to; misrepresent." So, yes, a fact can be misrepresented. In fact, it's kind of implied that what's being belied is the truth.<br /><br />But I agree with Jeanie's assessment on passivity. The real subject of the sentence—that which is doing the belying—is the step, etc. <br /><br />With belie, the subject of the sentence is the one misrepresenting the object (the truth), and that's exactly what they've done here—reverse the subject and the object with a crafty little passive.Jordanhttp://jordanmccollum.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-52355318225556360062009-11-02T17:35:18.734-06:002009-11-02T17:35:18.734-06:00I believe the sentence is technically correct yet ...I believe the sentence is technically correct yet awkward. It is a good example of why it is usually best to avoid the passive voice.<br /><br />Perhaps better:<br />A firm stride, straight posture, and clear eyes belied Jerry's age of 83 years.Jean Wogamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14464446396668373473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-39079904489605193802009-11-02T17:20:17.787-06:002009-11-02T17:20:17.787-06:00Hmmm...I don't think the sentence is structure...Hmmm...I don't think the sentence is structured correctly for the word - it wasn't his age that belied - because his age is a concrete and true fact - it's his actions that belied his age.<br />Murphy:DRiley Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817930302085699222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-50390916447141647262009-11-02T17:18:49.265-06:002009-11-02T17:18:49.265-06:00Hi Alicia
i'm currently procrastinating by rea...Hi Alicia<br />i'm currently procrastinating by reading your blog. what a bad boy.<br /><br />Anyway, belieing something shows it to be false or to contradict, as I understand it. It cannot show something TRUE to be false, it can show something that looks TRUE to be false.<br /><br />If he is 83, a firm step can't show that he isn't 83.<br /><br /><br />Simple fix, I guess, would be to replace 'belied' with 'contradict' or some better word.<br /><br />Or it could be rewritten completely:<br /><br />"With a firm step, straight posture and clear eyes, you could never tell that Jerry is 83 years old."<br /><br />I would like to fix 'clear eyes' into maybe 'cataract free' but that doesn't really flow too well. <br /><br />Not great rewriting, but theres my input.<br /><br />Now back to editing this story . . .John Hnoreply@blogger.com