Good Evening, SuperForest!
This just came in from our buddy, SuperForester Shaun! Receiving emails and posts from our friends and readers both near and far is definitely one of my favorite things about running a site like SuperForest. After you read what Shaun wrote, you’ll see why. In this post, Shaun describes to us how positive living not only has to do with what we say, but how we say it. Take it away, Shaun!
Amid my quest to live a positive lifestyle, I’ve become fascinated how positivity can be expressed through even the smallest of actions – specifically the way we write and speak. In fact, I’ve discovered that being positive can technically make one a better writer.
I came upon this notion when recently reading William Strunk Jr.’s ‘The Elements of Style.’ I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to improve his/her writing. After perusing the first few pages, I realized I had skipped a heap of valuable information when neglecting this book back in high school.
Principle 15 dictates: Put statements in positive form.
According to Strunk, “Consciously or unconsciously, the reader is dissatisfied with being told only what is not; the reader wishes to be told what is. Hence, as a rule, it is better to express even a negative in a positive form.” Here are some examples with pairs of sentences saying the same thing, the left in the negative form and right in the positive:
She is not a quiet person. She is talkative.
He was not on time. He was late.
I did not remember. I forgot.
The sentences on the right are more eloquent for a few reasons. They are simple. They are to the point. Another one of Strunk’s principles is to eliminate needless words. As you can see in the first example, the sentence on the right says the same thing as the left, but is half as long. Also, the word ‘talkative’ is much more descriptive than ‘not quiet.’ When focusing on the positive, the writer points out what actually exists. The negative forces the reader to travel an unnecessary roundabout path to get to the same destination.
This notion can be put to use outside the realm of writing. As one who works in the creative field, I’ve found positivity especially useful when giving feedback. Any Toastmaster can attest that delivering a critique is a skill in itself. We are all familiar with the concept of ‘constructive criticism.’ By putting comments in the positive form, you and the person you’re evaluating can be assured that you mean the best.
Instead of pointing out what not to do, suggest what can be done. Here are some examples:
It’s too fast. Try something slower.
Don’t use warm colors. Use cool colors.
It’s too boring. Liven it up.
Though the differences between negative and positive are subtler than the previous examples, the principle is still there. And instead of resulting in someone feeling inadequate in her work, addressing her in the positive form will set her on a path towards improvement. The sentences on the left accomplish only one thing: they point out what is wrong. When putting comments in positive form, or as suggestions, you’re already setting the person off in a positive direction. You’re placing them on a path towards success. They’re already improving. The focus is placed on the solution as opposed to the problem.
Honestly, since I’ve stumbled upon this enlightening grammatical trifle, it has been a rough journey putting it to use. As I give more attention to my written and spoken words, I realize how much I describe things by what they are not. However, the more I catch myself, take a breath, and put my words into positive form, the results have shined.
Let us avoid emphasizing what is not. Show us what is and the possibility of what can be. By doing so, you give us presence and possibility, delivered with eloquence. So simple, yet so powerful.
With a smile of love and gratitude,
Shaun
Wowza! I tried to think of a “negative” statement about this post so I could turn the tables and make it a positive one but I don’t think I can…wait a minute, there it is: Everything about this post is great. A huge thank you goes out to Shaun for sending it in, I certainly learned a lot and writing in positive form is something I’ll definitely try to be more conscious of. -Carla
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