[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]Watch those metaphors

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[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]Watch those metaphors

Occasionally, I have noticed the use of mixed metaphors in your articles. In Monday’s edition, the Opinion/Perspective page featured a piece entitled “Time for hard economic work” that read, “...the ubiquitous fear of soaring unemployment is haunting society.” A fear does not haunt, something that haunts gives rise to fear. Another example, in the article concerning “Silmido”: “...the thaw was at its peak.” Obviously, it is nonsensical to describe the phenomenon of thawing as rising in elevation to attain a peak. A mixed metaphor distracts and detracts from the quality of the writing, however flawless the grammar may be.


by Ki Hyun-hahm
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