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Rest in Peace, Miss Gould

Shortly after writing about words, I learned that the New Yorker's formidable Grammarian, Miss Gould, has passed away. Writing good prose is difficult, surprisingly so. Although a good editor does not write the prose, he improves it. It requires a light hand but firm good sense, intelligence but not overeducation, and a good ear. Like Hume's "true judge" of art, a good judge of writing requires concerted practice, careful comparison, a delicate sensitivity, a lack of prejudice, and good sense. Also like Hume's true judge of art, the true judge of writing is rare.

Miss Gould was one of those rarities. Those who knew and loved her will mourn her loss. Those who, like me, love and strive for good writing will mourn the loss of a member of an endangered species: the "grammarians" who pay attention to good writing, and who, in their own small way, shoulder the burden of civilization.

[Cross-posted at Proportional Belief.]

Posted on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 5:59 PM | Comments (1) | Return

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