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ImageSMART TALK

by Dr. Thorn Schwa



HOPEFULLY: George Carlin was one of our great crusaders for English as a first language. First, he over-used so-called offensive expressions to desensitize us to them. Then he attacked the words and phrases that are truly offensive. Offensive because they're used by people who pretend to themselves that they know American English.

Hopefully was a favorite target of Carlin's. Instead of the correct "I hope we'll do all right," the ignorant say, "Hopefully, we'll do all right." Or, even worse, alright.

Words ending in -ly usually modify verbs, as in "Cautiously, the dog approached," which a rearrangement of "The dog approached cautiously." To say, "Hopefully, we'll do all right" is simply a reordering of "We'll do all right hopefully," which is to announce that you'll do all the right things in a hopeful manner. Huh? Not what you mean. To say what you mean, try "I hope we'll do all right."

There. How hard was that? You're not only speaking correctly and clearly, you're now owning the thought by making it personal: "I hope." Now your audience can infer that you actually care, and can care more about you.

Besides, in saying I hope instead of hopefully, you're saving a syllable, thus tightening and simplifying your language. In these days, when a computer user gets all tingly about a shortcut that saves one keystroke, saving a syllable might be incentive enough to stop using hopefully.

Another approach: Would you say "I feel hopefully" instead of "I feel hopeful?" Very good, class! No more than you'd say "I feel badly" rather than the correct "I feel bad," right? Oops, same error, better for another column.

In honor of George Carlin's crusade for clearer English, the Center for English as a First Language displays his portrait on our Wall of Fame in the Lobby of Strunk Hall.


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