# Clarity is speech and writing questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011 "2007-07-09T02:44:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bcullman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bcullman/32/8207_2.png) [@bcullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcullman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/1 "2007-07-09T02:44:21Z")
Over the years, I have made a few choices in how I phrase things. For example, when giving or reading aloud directions, if the person asks me a question, and the answer is an affirmative, I tend to refrain from saying “Right” and instead say “Correct”, so as to not confuse my answer the the direction of right (vs left) Or (and this occurs less frequently), In speech or writing that contains numbers or any sort of measurable amount of something, I avoid saying “too” what that concept is needed and instead say “also” or “as well” Anyone have any other examples of this? Is this just a common courtesy, or is there a (literary?) name for this? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/2 "2007-07-09T02:58:22Z")
You mean clarity **in** speech and writing questions, which even corrected sounds a little strange? A classic example is in [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jX1v5h3Ffg&NR=1), starting at 3:55. ---
**Author:** ![bcullman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bcullman/32/8207_2.png) [@bcullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcullman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/3 "2007-07-09T03:27:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] You mean clarity **in** speech and writing questions, which even corrected sounds a little strange? [/QUOTE] Yes, I suppose I should have mentioned that. As far as I know there is no grammatical rule that says I must change my phrasing, and while I find these sentence constructions less than desirable, I believe they are still perfectly valid grammatically. ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/4 "2007-07-09T03:29:57Z")
Why not “clarity” or “accuracy?” Doesn’t always have to be complicated, does it? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/5 "2007-07-09T03:48:52Z")
Nonambiguity? (and you might want to correct your syntax problems, while you’re at it) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/6 "2007-07-09T17:15:23Z")
[QUOTE=bcullman] As far as I know there is no grammatical rule that says I must change my phrasing, and while I find these sentence constructions less than desirable, I believe they are still perfectly valid grammatically. [/QUOTE] Well, I don’t not entirely disagree. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/7 "2007-07-09T17:26:42Z")
Eschew obfuscation! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/8 "2007-07-09T22:14:49Z")
The passive voice is always to be avoided. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/9 "2007-07-09T22:59:51Z")
Cheeky responders are you. ---
**Author:** ![wendigo1974](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@wendigo1974](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendigo1974)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/10 "2007-07-09T23:04:49Z")
[QUOTE=bcullman] For example, when giving or reading aloud directions, if the person asks me a question, and the answer is an affirmative, I tend to refrain from saying “Right” and instead say “Correct”, so as to not confuse my answer the the direction of right (vs left) [/QUOTE] If the the question asked is the correct answer … wouldn’t “Yes” suffice ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/11 "2007-07-09T23:05:14Z")
\*Simplex sigillum veri. \* ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/12 "2007-07-10T00:30:39Z")
So the question that you are asking is whether there is a phrase or preferably a word which in common usage succintly represents the choice which you make when in conversation you take pains to inform your respondent of the information they require without risking ambiguity? Dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/13 "2007-07-10T13:45:50Z")
[QUOTE=bcullman] Over the years, I have made a few choices in how I phrase things. For example, when giving or reading aloud directions, if the person asks me a question, and the answer is an affirmative, I tend to refrain from saying “Right” and instead say “Correct”, so as to not confuse my answer the the direction of right (vs left) Or (and this occurs less frequently), In speech or writing that contains numbers or any sort of measurable amount of something, I avoid saying “too” what that concept is needed and instead say “also” or “as well” Anyone have any other examples of this? Is this just a common courtesy, or is there a (literary?) name for this? [/QUOTE] The use of the term “correct” instead of “yes” annoys me. Aside from being so artificial, it connotes a hierarchical relationship with the questioner as the student and the one saying “correct” representing a position of superiority, such as a teacher. Stop doing it. Should I turn left? “Yes.” I should turn left, right? “Turn left.” I should turn left instead of right, right? “Turn left.” Incompetence in asking a question should not be further kludged by ambiguity or stiltedness in answering it. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/14 "2007-07-10T15:29:57Z")
[QUOTE=Chief Pedant] The use of the term “correct” instead of “yes” annoys me. Aside from being so artificial, it connotes a hierarchical relationship with the questioner as the student and the one saying “correct” representing a position of superiority, such as a teacher. Stop doing it. Should I turn left? “Yes.” I should turn left, right? “Turn left.” I should turn left instead of right, right? “Turn left.” Incompetence in asking a question should not be further kludged by ambiguity or stiltedness in answering it. [/QUOTE] I often say “correct” in driving situations, simply because that’s the way the logic runs: My default response for any such affirmative answer, in everyday conversation, is “right.” However, on the road, this leads to confusion (“I turn left up here?” “Right.”) so I make the mental jump to the nearest equivalent, which is “correct.” Not “yes.” “Yes,” is an answer. “Right” and “Correct” are states, so they are more analagous. “I graded your test; number 5 is correct, number 6 is incorrect.” “I graded your test; number 5 is right, number 6 is wrong.” “I graded your test; number 5 is yes, number 6 is no.” 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-is-speech-and-writing-questions/411011/15 "2007-07-10T17:31:03Z")
[QUOTE=toadspittle] “I graded your test; number 5 is correct, number 6 is incorrect.” [/QUOTE] Multiple choice. [QUOTE=toadspittle] “I graded your test; number 5 is right, number 6 is wrong.” [/QUOTE] Essay. [QUOTE=toadspittle] “I graded your test; number 5 is yes, number 6 is no.” 😕 [/QUOTE] True/False.