Not answering your main point, but small note on the “leaving out very” point: I’ve enjoyed McCloskey’s writing on writing. She calls the phenomenon “elegant variation” (I don’t know whether this is her only) and also teaches we have to get rid of this unhelpful practice that we get thought in school.
Not answering your main point, but small note on the “leaving out very” point: I’ve enjoyed McCloskey’s writing on writing. She calls the phenomenon “elegant variation” (I don’t know whether this is her only) and also teaches we have to get rid of this unhelpful practice that we get thought in school.
Thanks! I always upvote McClosky references—one of the underappreciated writers/thinkers on topics of culture and history.