Literary Buts
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Attention Voters: Trust… But Verify
Election season is upon us once again, class. Which means campaign signs are blooming more abundantly than Florida’s lovebugs. Every candidate promises lower taxes, better schools, safer streets, cleaner parks, stronger economies, happier puppies, and, if elected, perhaps even fewer telemarketers. Permit your old professor a brief grammar lesson. One of history’s most famous buts came from… Continue reading
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Proverbial But O’ The Week: Overlook
A fool shows his annoyance at once, BUT a prudent man overlooks an insult. (Proverbs 12:16) That little but changes everything. The fool is ruled by the moment; the prudent person remembers that preserving peace is often more valuable than proving a point. Continue reading
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Attention Readers: What Changed?
Professor Buttersworth’s first rule for spotting a truly remarkable but. Always wanting to be helpful (it’s one of my many admirable qualities), I’ve prepared a brief lesson on the proper care and handling of our favorite little conjunction: but. Students! Pay attention! The first step is to recognize that but is most always used as a conjunction. See this nifty… Continue reading
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Attention Weary Souls: A Comforting But
From the Heidelberg Catechism: Q: What is your only comfort in life and in death? A: That I am not my own, BUT belong, body and soul, in life and in death–to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. That’s a big catechismal but, I tell you. Comfort in life and death (or if you prefer, in this life… Continue reading
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Attention Writers: More Buts!
From Zinnser’s On Writing Well: “Learn to alert the reader as soon as possible to any change in mood from the previous sentence. At least a dozen words will do this job for you: but, yet, however, nevertheless, still, instead, thus, therefore, meanwhile, now, later, today, subsequently, and several more. I can’t overstate how much easier… Continue reading
Big Buts of the Bible 