07.14.13 — On Writing Well — the Acrostic


 
Sunday, July 14, 2013
 
Acrostic by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Edited by Will Shortz

This crafty Sunday acrostic draws a quotation from On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
 
Zinsser writes simply and clearly about simplicity and clutter. Full of excellent examples of crisp non-fiction, On Writing Well is a straightforward guide to improving your writing, one that’s quick to point out common flaws and prescribe simple cures. It’s Writing 101, and its increased popularity would instantly make the Internet a better place. ~ Josh Jackson
 
The quotation: BEWARE OF ALL THE SLIPPERY NEW FAD WORDS: PARADIGM AND PARAMETER, PRIORITIZE AND POTENTIALIZE. THEY ARE ALL WEEDS THAT WILL SMOTHER WHAT YOU WRITE. DON’T DIALOGUE WITH SOMEONE YOU CAN TALK TO. DON’T INTERFACE WITH ANYBODY.
 
The author’s name and the title of the work: ZINSSER, ON WRITING WELL

The defined words:

A. Animal life adrift in the main, ZOOPLANKTON
B. Displaying a bias in a literal way, ITALICIZED
C. 2005 portrayer of Kong’s darling (2 wds.), NAOMI WATTS
D. Reaction to a Poe tale, SHUDDER
E. Good to go from port to port, SEAWORTHY
F. Plea, petition, solicitation, ENTREATY
G. Where a line may terminate, RAILHEAD
H. Disagreeable, repellent (hyph.), OFF-PUTTING
I. Slang for a righty, NORTHPAW
J. Motto of an expansionist (2 wds.), "WESTWORD HO!”
K. Literally, “little wheel”, ROULETTE
L. Shown in an incriminating light, IMPLICATED
M. Speculation based on mystical insight into the divine nature, THEOSOPHY
N. Seriously hurting or struggling (4 wds.), IN A BAD WAY
O. Popular tank acquisition (2 wds.), NEON TETRA
P. When the warm-up is over (2 wds.), GAME TIME
Q. Having a global effect, WORLDWIDE
R. Makeup for Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow, EYELINER
S. Cutter, polisher or engraver of precious stones, LAPIDARY
T. Source of noise pollution in suburbia (2 wds.), LEAF BLOWER

————————
 

 
 
 
Click on image to enlarge,
or Right click and select “Open Link in New Window".
 
Puzzle available on the internet at
 
 

No comments: