Hopelessness In Heart Is A Lonely Hunter Essay - 1480 Words

Hopelessness in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, takes place in a small town in the deep south during the mid-twentieth century. The book closely follows a diverse group of five residents that are loosely tied together. They include Singer, a deaf mute, Benedict Copeland, a well educated black doctor, Jake Blount, a politically zealous transient, Mick Kelly, a young girl, and Biff Brannon, a middle aged man that owns a diner. As the book progresses the characters find themselves in non-ideal circumstances. The characters all want something they cant have and it gradually becomes clear that they are powerless to obtain it. The outlook continues to grow bleak for the characters as time†¦show more content†¦He feels hopeless and alone without his friend, and there is nothing he can do to change his circumstances. The companionship he gains from the other characters does little to take away from the longing he has for Antonapoul os. His hopelessness and despair peaks when Antonapoulos dies. As a result, Singer takes his own life. Singers death hits all of the other characters very hard. He was a rock for all of them, and when he dies they all slip further into hopelessness. Dr. Copeland spent his entire life trying to enlighten others, especially members of his own race. The book says, He always knew he was meant to teach his people (mccullers, 74). He tries to educate his children about justice and equality, but to his disappointment they dont even speak in an intelligent way. As hard as he tries, no one seems to heed his words of wisdom. Dr. Copeland is not a religious man, and this appears to hinder his ability to relate to the local black community. While he is highly respected, the people will dismiss anything he says that contradicts their religious beliefs. Dr. Copeland is highly frustrated by this. His bitterness worsens when his son, Willie, is abused so badly while on a chain gain that he must ha ve both of his legs amputated. The one thing that Dr.Copeland wants more than anything in the world is justice for African-Americans in his community. When he goes to appeal for justice fromShow MoreRelated Byrons Depression Reflected in Manfred Essay1944 Words   |  8 Pages Byrons Swiss tour and Manfred hit close to home for me. Not because I have traveled Switzerland, but because at one time in my life, I also experienced feelings of alienation and hopelessness. Therefore, I was quite intrigued by Dr Mialls notion of trauma in Manfred. I think he makes a compelling argument, especially when he pairs the notion of trauma with Freuds theory on the causes of trauma, but I do not necessarily agree with him entirely. While Dr Mialls theory is sound, I do not thinkRead MoreUnderstanding the Frankenstein Monster3331 Words   |  14 Pagestakes on the role of the child and is the recipient of â€Å"maternal† rejection. As soon as the monster comes to life, Victor is filled with intense revulsion. He explains, â€Å"The beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart† (Shelley, 42). From that quote, it is learned that Victor’s rejection of the Frankenstein monster was immediate. Moreover, Victor’s actions are similar to that of infant rejection. For example, Victor’s immediate reaction was to lock the monsterRead MoreLord of the Flies by William Golding2631 Words   |  10 Pageseventual tendencies to succumb to human nature: â€Å"Left alone on the island of the self, man discovers the reality of his own dark heart†¦a raw, instinctive appeal for help, for rescue (Baker). When left to oneself in an unfamiliar place, one reaches the highest limits of one’s tolerance and snaps, unintentionally becoming increasingly primitive. As man grows more savage at heart, his whole being follows suit, and eventually the darker side of man’s nature inevitably wins, proving to the world the truthRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesAttitudes Make Organizations More Profitable† 83 Point/Counterpoint Employer–Employee Loyalty Is an Outdated C oncept 87 Questions for Review 88 Experiential Exercise What Factors Are Most Important to Your Job Satisfaction? 89 Ethical Dilemma Bounty Hunters 89 Case Incident 1 Long Hours, Hundreds of E-Mails, and No Sleep: Does This Sound Like a Satisfying Job? 90 Case Incident 2 Crafting a Better Job 91 4 Emotions and Moods 97 What Are Emotions and Moods? 98 The Basic Emotions 100 †¢ The Basic

Mission Vision and Objectives of The Group TATA Free Essay Example, 3000 words

Recently TATA has introduced world s cheapest passenger car (NANO) priced only $ 2500. In fact TATA wants to help the poor people with this product. Poor families of medium income families can afford a car with the introduction of NANO. While most of the other car manufacturers are trying to develop luxury cars, TATA thinks in the opposite direction. They wanted to make car which is affordable to even poor people and the outcome was NANO. Contaminated drinking water is causing thousands of deaths in India. In order to help poor people to purify drinking water, TATA introduced TATA Swatch or water purifier priced less than 1000 Indian rupees in 2009(Graham, 2010, p. 9). It should be noted that there is no need for TATA like big companies to introduce products such as water purifier. However, they introduced this product only to demonstrate their social commitments. The TATA group has a set five core values; integrity, understanding, excellence, unity and responsibility (Angwin, 2011 , p. 133). These core values can be seen in every TATA business segments. Even though TATA s business groups are operating independently, they understand each other work strictly in accordance with the vision, mission and core values of TATA group. We will write a custom essay sample on Mission Vision and Objectives of The Group TATA or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page During the last 144 years of operations, TATA group has grown significantly and they are one of the prominent companies in the world at present. Even though TATA started its business operations as a trading company, they are currently operating in different fields such as engineering sectors, service sectors, energy sector, chemical sector and consumer product sectors. Steel industry, investment industry, telecommunication industry, automobile industry, tea plantation and distribution etc are some of the major business portfolios of TATA. They have business units in various parts of world including India, China, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, North America, South America and United Kingdom. Even though diversification is perceived as a business strategy which involves high risk, TATA had no hesitation in accepting it. In fact they perceived diversification as a strategy for survival in international market. It should be noted that TATA is curren tly producing ordinary cars such as NANO as well as luxury cars. Their acquisition of Jaguar-Land rover clearly states that they are interested in luxury car manufacturing segment also. In other words, TATA group is interested in doing business is all consumer segments irrespective of the abilities of the consumers in purchasing ordinary products or luxury products. They know very well that both luxury segments as well as ordinary product segments are important for them to prosper in international market. It should be noted that the purchasing power of the consumers depend on their financial abilities. Since each country has different consumer segments, it is necessary to have products which cater the needs of all people irrespective of their purchasing abilities. That is why TATA is producing NANO like cars on one side and acquiring firms such as Jaguar and Land Rover on the other side.

The Autobiography By Frederick Douglass - 1632 Words

The autobiography by Frederick Douglass is very interesting. It talks about his life and his contribution to the abolition movement. This is an incredible tell perseverance to be with his love that is free in the north and to help others that have been in captivity. Before the book starts he gives a pretty face by William Lloyd Garrison and a letter from Wend ale Phillips. He s done this because he wants people to know that he is a runaway slave that is smart and able to write in his book is his own book. And the pre-face when Lloyd Garrison describe his first encounter with Fredrick Douglas at and it is labor convention in and Tackett Massachusetts in 1841. This led to a longtime friendship between Douglas and the antislavery Clytie. Douglas spoke to the audit about his life undersleeves very and already responded well to Douglas impressions and the intellectuals. Also Garrison says that he fully supports the narrative by Douglas and declared that this narrative is Douglass’ s own work and is entirely truthful. It gives the book its merits to become a bestseller. Garrison also gives a story about a white man that was ship wreck and became a slave or Africa for three years. After he was found he was unable to remove his language and his power a reason. This concluded that the Detroit deterioration of the man s mine to a result of slavery you and not to a certain race. Garrison off so discusses the issues of slave-owners Kelly slaves and being not punished. DouglasShow MoreRelatedLife as a Slave in the autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave834 Words   |  4 Pageslife is of interest to you, as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t do anything miraculous, like raise the dead or cure cancer. But if my story will motivate someone to fight against human injustice, then I will tell you all about it. My story began as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, on a cold February day around 1818, in Talbot County, M aryland. I was born into slavery, to a black woman, Harriet Bailey, and a white father, who I would never know. They took me from my grandmother at six years ofRead MoreEssay Frederick Douglass and Slavery1448 Words   |  6 PagesFrederick Douglass and Slavery Frederick Douglass the most successful abolitionist who changed America’s views of slavery through his writings and actions. Frederick Douglass had many achievements throughout his life. His Life as a slave had a great impact on his writings. His great oratory skills left the largest impact on Civil War time period literature. All in all he was the best black speaker and writer ever. Douglass was born a slave in 1817, in Maryland. He educatedRead MoreFrederick Douglass, An American Slave1114 Words   |  5 Pages Frederick Douglass is well known for many of his literary achievements. He is best known, now, as a writer. As a writer, Frederick Douglass shined. As a speaker, he was the best. There was no abolitionist, black or white, that was more for his speaking skills. (McFeely, 206) So impressive were Frederick Douglass’s oratorical and intellectual abilities that opponents refused to believe that he had been a slave and alleged that he was a impostor brought up on the public byRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1405 Words   |  6 PagesLife is always compared to be like a roller coaster ride, having its ups and downs. The book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an autobiography written by Fredrick Douglass. The book is written from his perspective of being a slave who hoped to be free someday. This autobiography occurs in the years 1835 to 1845 in Boston, Massachusetts. This book shows the roller coaster ride of going from slavery to freedom. In the beginning of this book, there is a preface which is told by a whiteRead MoreFrederick Douglass and the Abolition of Slavery600 Words   |  3 PagesFrederick Douglass and the Abolition of Slavery There were many influential people who fought for the abolition of slavery in the 1800s. Among these people are Harriet Tubman, William Lloyd Garrison, and our sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln. Frederick Douglass is one of these people. As a former slave, Frederick Douglass believed he could not enjoy his freedom while the rest of his people suffered under the burden of slavery. Therefore, he spent much of his adult life working to abolishRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1257 Words   |  6 PagesBook Review By Mary Elizabeth Ralls Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass: An autobiography written by Frederick Douglass Millennium publication, 1945edition 75 pages Frederick Douglass whose real name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey approximately birthdate is in1818, the month or day is not known, he died in 1895. He is one of the most famous advocates and the greatest leaders of anti-slavery in the past 200 or so years.Read MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1155 Words   |  5 PagesEmily Tovar Mr. Obadiah English 3.1+, Period A 15 December 2014 Douglass Essay The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass was an autobiography published in 1845. This story is from an outspoken past slave about the injustices of slavery to African Americans. As it is an autobiography he describes his own experience and what he witnessed as a slave. Author, Frederick Douglass, uses rhetorical and literary devices to prove his point that slavery was an injustice and a cruelRead MoreEliot s Influences On Literature1013 Words   |  5 PagesFrederick Douglass and T.S. Eliot’s Influences On Literature The nineteenth and twentieth century were pivotal times in the world of literature. Many new elements of writing and style were evolving and authors all over the world were finding ways to present what they felt most passionate about. Some writers opened their readers up to newer ideas by the means of, as Ezra Pound once stated, â€Å"making it new.† Two writers in particular who did a fantastic job of this were Frederick Douglass and T.S.Read MoreFrederick Douglass And The Abolitionist Movement1337 Words   |  6 PagesFrederick Douglass’s Contributions to the Abolitionist Movement Throughout the nineteenth century there was a movement that swept the upper south. This movement was the abolitionist movement which made an effort to emancipate all slaves and stop racial segregation along with discrimination. This movement led to many renowned historical figures contributing through speeches and writings with the goal of seeking an end to slavery. One of these individuals was Frederick Douglass who escaped slaveryRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1126 Words   |  5 PagesAbigail De Rousselle Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Critique Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Boston: Anti-Slavery Office, 1845. Ibiblio.org. Elegant Ebooks. Web. 29 Nov. 2015. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an autobiography about Frederick Douglass a fugitive slave from Maryland. The book follows Douglass as he grows up under slavery and begins to recognize the cruel institution to which he is subject to, and ultimately leading to his

Anylasis Disabled Wilfred Qown free essay sample

â€Å"Disabled† by Wilfred Owen is a reflective analysis on the experiences of a World War I solider. The poem effectively contrasts the current life of the solider to his past. Owen’s offers the poem as a personal statement on war and its effect on people. This poem ultimately makes an argument for the proper understanding, acceptance, and appreciation of veterans. As a solider himself, Owen’s sympathizes with the speaker and relates to his plight (Heath). Consequently, his background is reflected in â€Å"Disabled. † Wilfred Owen grew up with a Christian background. Although he studied to become a clergyman, he was often unsure of his religion. He joined the war at the age of 22. During the war, he saw the worst of the battlefield and began to write poetry to document his perspective on the war. In 1917, he was affected by an explosion and sent to a war hospital in England. We will write a custom essay sample on Anylasis Disabled Wilfred Qown or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Afterwards, he returned to service and died in battle in 1918 (â€Å"Poetry Foundation†). His biographical context is essential to understand Owen’s point of view for â€Å"Disabled. † To fully understand this poem, there is an implied assumption of knowledge regarding the facts of World War I, as well as knowledge into the amount of disabled veterans that resulted from the war. Wilfred Owen’s poem is essentially about a disabled veteran. He is sitting in the wheelchair, â€Å"waiting for the dark† (1). The dark creates a reference not only to the end of the day, but also to the end of life. As he sits, he listens to the sound of children playing. However, he is aware that soon these kids will be called home for bedtime. â€Å"Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him† (6). Again, he is alluding to the end of their lifeful sounds, as well as too the end of their consciousness. He continues on to reflect on the way his town used to be. — In the old times, before he threw away his knees† (10). Here, Owen makes a compelling choice in diction by selecting the words, â€Å"threw away. † He does not describe his loss as honorable or as a sacrifice to a just cause. Instead, he assigns the phrase a negative connotation and establishes that the loss of his legs was a waste. Owen discusses the aftermath of this injury in stating, â€Å"half his lifetime lapsed in the hot race† (19). The word â€Å"lapsed† is another way of saying expired or failed. Therefore, the speaker acknowledges that in losing his legs, he also lost a large portion of his life. Lapsed† could also be a play on the word â€Å"lap† making a comment on the race itself. The speaker could be observing that, because of his injury, the world is passing by and leaving him behind. In particular, the he reflects on the loss of female affection. The speaker thinks back to a day when he held women’s interests. He appears to be injured most by their rejection since his injury. â€Å"To-night he noticed how the women’s eyes / Passed from him to the strong men that were whole† (42-43). The speaker expresses feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, and weakness. This image conflicts with the view of how he imaged a solider would be. He had joined picturing that he would impress girls and appear strong and fearless. However, upon returning from war, he realized that he was not going to receive the warm welcome that he had initially imagined. â€Å"Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal† (36). This line indicates that people were more enthusiastic and concerned about the athletes than they were soldiers. In the end, the speaker says, â€Å"How cold and late it is! Why don’t they come / And put him into bed? Why don’t they come? † (45-46). He is, in part, asking why the medical attendants are not coming to take care of him. However, he is also speaking about death. The speaker is waiting for death to arrive and to him, it is continually delayed. He is asking why death will not come and end his suffering. What finally is one to make of this poem? Overall, the poem should be interpreted as an argument for acknowledgment of disabled veterans. Owen’s is trying to show the struggles that these veterans are put through. He calls not only for respect, but also for understanding. â€Å"Disabled† was written with the intention of bringing the tragedies of war to light, and asking the public to acknowledge the sacrifices of the veterans.

Rollerblade Micro

Rollerblade Micro-Environment analysis Businesses are affected by both internal and external factors; to remain competitive leaders should keep making timely, quality, responsive business decisions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rollerblade Micro-Environment analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The United States apparels industry is highly competitive with international and domestic players; in2010, US footwear industry recorded a decrease in sales by 2%, the industry was worth US$42,045 with 2 billion pairs sold. This paper discusses micro-environment of Rollerblade Corporation (Rollerblade Official website, 2011). Sport market in the United States Despite global financial crisis of 2007, the United States sports market recorded an increased sale in the years 2010, during the year, the market increased with 3%; this was a total value of US$27,371. Shoes recorded a marginal decrease in these sales with wom en sportswear shoes recording the highest decline in 2010. In relation to unit prices for the products, the prices increased marginally in 210 to record an increase of 1% on average; the products that experienced the highest increase were children sports footwear which recorded an increase by 3%. With the growth in globalization, there have been growth in online selling where the target are international markets; in 2009, Amazon was able to complete sales worth US$930 through its online sellers like Zappos.com. In 2010, Jones Apparels announced that it had increased its sales with 2%; the move had been attributed to growth in clothing sectors mostly children clothing’s. Competitors There are a number of players in the sportswear industry; the players are both national and international. The main competitors that Rollerblade has to deal with include Fila and Nike; they are companies that specify on sporting apparels. Nike Competition in the United States sportswear industry is high, however Nike has been able to share the largest market where it shares about quarter of the market at 23%, and payless shoesources Inc. follows a distance second at 5% of the market share. The company has a strong brand name thus Rollerblade has to devise mechanisms to compete with the multinational; it also enjoys economies of scale (Nike Official Website, 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fila Fila Company is another competitor that Rollerblade has to consider when making marketing and product development strategies. Fila Company is an Italian multinational that operates in more than none countries United States included. The company had strong marketing team that advises the management on the right approach to marketing. The company has invested in investment in skating footwear and other apparels, in 2009, the company introduced the Fila carving skates, with active steering technology which are skating shoes with high levels of comfort. With the market aggressiveness, Rollerblade has to enact effective selling and marketing policies to sell their products effectively. Although Rollerblade has been favoured by the growth of skiing sport, its competitors have developed products, shoes that are preferred by sportsmen than the products made by the company. The fast developments of the company’s products have make Rollerblade face high competition from the company. Fila are highly supported by its strong brand names; the company is able to venture into new business arenas because of the strength of its name (Fila Official Website, 2011). New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc Another competitor that Rollerblade has to consider when making its products is New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. The company accounted for 0.2 % of Unites States sales of apparels in 2010; the amounts realized are US$774 million in US sales. The level sales had reached that record high because of its business diversification to footwear sporting items. To remain competitive the company has embraced technology and engaged in business partnership with wholesalers and retailers like J Crew. It was ranked the seventh in foot ware sales in 2010; Rollerblade has the task of coming up with project that address such strong competitors (New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc, 2011). Customer Rollerblade choose its customers from a wide range of potential customers, the main area that the company has concentrated in are sports people, both men and women where it sponsors some sports as marketing tools. Other than the established players, the company has programs that reach to future markets; they include policies and marketing strategies that address children, college students, and high school students.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rollerblade Micro-Environment analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The method of marketing is aimed at creating close marketing link with the youthful population in preparation of future markets (Neal and Quester, 2006). Rollerblade marketing team is conscious of the method of selling that its competitors are using; the method is superior as it assists the company know the right approach to the market and the kind of commodities that markets are looking for. When developing products, the company undertakes wide research on the right developments they should adopt in their strategies. The aim of the company is always to offer high quality products and create and maintain its customer’s loyalty (Metters, Kathryn, Madeleine and Steve, 2006). References Fila Official Website. 2011. Fila. Web. Metters, R., Kathryn, K., Madeleine, P., and Steve, W.,2006. Successful Service Operations Management. Thomson South-Western: Mason. National Museum of Roller skating Website, 2011. National Museum of Roller skating. Web. Neal, C. and Quester, P.,20 06. Consumer behaviour: implications for marketing strategy.NewJersey: McGraw-Hill.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., 2011. New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. Web. Nike Official Website., 2011. Nike. Web. Rollerblade Official website.,2011. Rollerblade. Web. This essay on Rollerblade Micro-Environment analysis was written and submitted by user Bo B. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Abstinence

Abstinence Abstinence means choosing not to have intercourse. There are all kinds of ways to accomplish this you may abstain from all sexual contact, or you may kiss and pet and even have oral sex. The important point is that there is no penis-to-vagina contact. None. The man secretes sperm-laden fluid long before he ejaculates, which can result in pregnancy as well as transmission of STD's. Don't push your luck on this point. If abstinence is your only form of protection, it must be practiced scrupulously. However, the reward for doing so is 100% reliability. It's an all-or-nothing deal which many women are quite satisfied with. One word of caution. If you choose to engage in sexual contact without intercourse, you are sharing the responsibility of protection with your partner to a greater degree than with other methods. Once you get the man to put on the condom, or to wait until you get your diaphragm in, or whatever, the precaution has been taken. But with abstinence, you must constantly be aware of what actions could be dangerous, and you are partly relying on him to remember also. Abstinence is a more intimate form of protection than most other methods. I recommend practicing it only with someone you really trust, or else practicing it to the extreme (ie, no sexual contact). Abstinence should not be confused with a technique called "withdrawal," in which the man does penetrate, but pulls out before ejaculation. Withdrawal does not work! The pre-ejaculate has plenty of sperm in it, and can transmit STD's (including HIV). Not to mention that it's quite difficult to stop oneself just before an orgasm and remember to pull out; many men don't accomplish the withdrawal. Don't get bullied into using this method if what you want is abstinence. That's why you should only attempt sex-without-intercourse with a truly trusted partner. If you are practicing complete abstinence from sexual contact, you may nontheless want some sexual ... Free Essays on Abstinence Free Essays on Abstinence Abstinence Abstinence means choosing not to have intercourse. There are all kinds of ways to accomplish this you may abstain from all sexual contact, or you may kiss and pet and even have oral sex. The important point is that there is no penis-to-vagina contact. None. The man secretes sperm-laden fluid long before he ejaculates, which can result in pregnancy as well as transmission of STD's. Don't push your luck on this point. If abstinence is your only form of protection, it must be practiced scrupulously. However, the reward for doing so is 100% reliability. It's an all-or-nothing deal which many women are quite satisfied with. One word of caution. If you choose to engage in sexual contact without intercourse, you are sharing the responsibility of protection with your partner to a greater degree than with other methods. Once you get the man to put on the condom, or to wait until you get your diaphragm in, or whatever, the precaution has been taken. But with abstinence, you must constantly be aware of what actions could be dangerous, and you are partly relying on him to remember also. Abstinence is a more intimate form of protection than most other methods. I recommend practicing it only with someone you really trust, or else practicing it to the extreme (ie, no sexual contact). Abstinence should not be confused with a technique called "withdrawal," in which the man does penetrate, but pulls out before ejaculation. Withdrawal does not work! The pre-ejaculate has plenty of sperm in it, and can transmit STD's (including HIV). Not to mention that it's quite difficult to stop oneself just before an orgasm and remember to pull out; many men don't accomplish the withdrawal. Don't get bullied into using this method if what you want is abstinence. That's why you should only attempt sex-without-intercourse with a truly trusted partner. If you are practicing complete abstinence from sexual contact, you may nontheless want some sexual ...

How to use adverbs effectively - Emphasis

How to use adverbs effectively How to use adverbs effectively Adverbs convey information about how things happen, as well as when, where and to what extent. As the name suggests, they modify verbs but they can also modify adjectives, other adverbs and whole sentences, writes Cathy Relf. For example, in the sentence I need to see you urgently, the adverb urgently tells us about the verb need. But in Recently, weve been incurring a lot of delays, the adverb recently tells us about the whole sentence. However, informative and descriptive though adverbs certainly are, you should still use them with thought and moderation like all language. We tend to use a lot of fairly meaningless adverbs in conversation, to emphasise certain points, create rhythm and elicit empathy from the listener. But good, clear writing is more about communicating your meaning efficiently than banging your point home and that means only using adverbs that add genuine, useful information. Whenever possible, show, dont tell. Some adverbs are used so frequently in speech that they have become little more than verbal tics, and these are the ones you should be particularly suspicious of if they turn up in your writing. Below are five such words, each of which you should sternly interrogate before deciding whether to grant it a place in your final draft. Interestingly Interestingly, many writers like to introduce facts with the word interestingly. Interestingly, its often followed by something that isnt. If you have an interesting observation to share, let it speak for itself. And if you have a dull but necessary fact to convey, dont try to pep it up by calling it interesting. Youll lose your readers trust, as well as their attention. Heres what happened when we asked a group of editors on Twitter how they felt about sentences beginning with interestingly. Warning: its not pretty. Use it: in speeches, to create a moment of suspense before delivering a genuinely interesting point. Dont use it: to add interest where there is none. Significantly Much like interestingly, the thing about significantly is that most truly significant things can speak for themselves. Pinpoint the reason that you know your fact is significant do you have a statistic, for example? If so, can you use that instead, and let the reader be the judge of its significance? Instead of UK tourists pay significantly less for petrol, why not UK tourists pay 8.6 per cent less for petrol? Sometimes, however, youll have expertise that your reader isnt privy to, meaning you may be able to see significance where they cant. In this case, you can use the word to signal that a particular piece of information youre conveying is significant, and then follow up on how, or why, in the next sentence. Youre basically telling your reader hold on to this bit; youll understand why in a minute. Used like this, significantly can be a useful tool for creating reader engagement. Also, its worth noting that in statistics, significant has a specific meaning, with the significance level being the amount of evidence required to indicate that a result did not happen by chance. Too often, however, significant is simply used to create persuasive, attention-grabbing sentences that gloss over an absence of evidence. For example, see this headline from the Daily Mail: Less than 6 hours sleep significantly increases risk of a stroke even if you are fit and healthy. The article gives no information about the size of the increased risk it could be one per cent higher or 100 per cent higher. The reader is left none the wiser regarding the level of significance, and the same is probably true of the writer. Use it: to highlight facts that the reader may not immediately realise are significant. Dont use it: as a substitute for real information, or to make something seem more important than it is. Obviously Before you use obviously or clearly, ask yourself three things: firstly, if its obvious to everyone, do you need to make the point at all? Take, for example, the introductory sentence to this article in The Hindu: Quite obviously, the Reserve Bank of India, while reviewing the credit policy the mid-quarter review is scheduled for later on June 18 would take note of the recent developments affecting the economy. Once you unpick the sentence, it is obvious that a bank would consider economic developments when reviewing its credit policy. But did they need to say so? After all, if its obvious, is it news? Secondly, if its not obvious to your readers, how are they going to feel? Foolish, perhaps or, worse, patronised. And, thirdly, are you using obviously to discourage questioning? (After all, who would argue with something that has been declared universally obvious?) If so, take a moment to think about why youre using such a defensive tactic. It may be that there are holes in your own argument. Use it: as little as possible. Dont use it: if its likely that the information will not be obvious to some readers. Actually Actually is a useful discourse marker in speech. We use it for emphasis, surprise, contrast or correction (we thought it would be a good move, but it was actually a mistake, no, I live in Hove, actually, he was actually trying to take all the credit himself). However, in writing, actually should be used sparingly. If youre someone who writes like a demon in first drafts, itll often end up in there because your writing tumbles out structured like speech. Its actually a great way to get a first draft on to paper, but when you go back to edit it and actually look at the contribution each word is making, thats the time to question whether theyre actually adding any value or clarity. In the sentence above, wed delete the first two actuallys, but keep the third, which subtly intensifies the action of adding value. Use it: when it adds a useful hint of contrast or surprise to the sentence. Dont use it: just because you would when speaking. Literally This is, without doubt, the adverb with the most enemies. There are whole social media accounts devoted to pointing out inappropriate uses of literally. See @literallypolice on Twitter and The Literally Tsar on Facebook, if you dont believe us. The problem with literally is that it has developed a colloquial meaning that is the opposite of its literal, or dictionary, meaning. Often, when people say literally, they mean its opposite, figuratively. The footballer Jamie Redknapp has a particular fondness for the colloquial usage of the word, according to this Guardian article (he had to cut back inside on to his left, because he literally hasnt got a right foot). Despite all this fuss, only the most pedantic person would interrupt you in the middle of a story to question whether you were literally shaking like a leaf or literally chomping at the bit. But readers are pickier than listeners, and sentences such as these seem more incongruous in black and white. So, just to be completely literal about it, here are the definitions from Collins: Literal: in exact accordance with or limited to the primary or explicit meaning of a word or text. Figurative: of the nature of, resembling, or involving a figure of speech; not literal; metaphorical. In short, if it didnt really, literally happen, dont use literally. Use it: to describe things that really happened. Dont use it: for metaphors or exaggerated expressions. Want more advice on getting the most out of your business writing? Read about our in-company High-impact business writing course. Or, if you want to train only one or two people, check out our open course sessions. Then give us a call on +44 (0)1273 732 888, email us or tweet us at @EmphasisWriting.