Adjectives Quote by Mary McCarthy
“The breakdown of our language, evident in the misuse, i.e., the misunderstanding of nouns and adjectives, is most grave, though perhaps not so conspicuous, in the handling of prepositions, those modest little connectives that hold the parts of a phrase or a sentence together. They are the joints of any language, what make it, literally, articulate.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Language of Literature, 1945
Misusing prepositions weakens sentence structure, as they are essential connectors that give clarity and articulation to language.
In simple terms: Prepositions are vital connectors for clear sentences.
Pay attention to preposition use.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing essays
- editing academic papers
- learning a new language
- teaching grammar
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do prepositions affect meaning?
- What strategies improve preposition usage?
Overemphasis on prepositions can overlook other grammatical errors.