Conventions of Composition Rule 189 Practice

1. Wrong: The plan fell to pieces, so they had to punt.

Better: The plan fell to pieces, so they had to crazy glue their options back together.

Also better: The leader dropped the ball on their plan, so they had to punt.

Explanation: The original sentence starts with a broken object metaphor, but end with football. Either is fine, but not both at the same time.

2. Wrong: "I don’t think we should wait until the other shoe drops. History has already shown what is likely to happen. The ball has been down this court before and I can see already the light at the end of the tunnel."

(Detroit News, quoted in The New Yorker, November 26, 2012)

Better: I don't think we should wait until the other ball drops. History has already shown what is likely to happen. The ball has been down this field before and I can see the goal in the end zone.

Explanation: The original sentence mixes three different image systems.

3. Wrong: "We'll have a lot of new blood holding gavels in Washington."

(Georgia Congressman Jack Kingston, quoted in the Savannah Morning News, November 3, 2010)

Better: Many new hands will be holding gavels in Washington.

Also better: New people will be making decisions in Washington.

Explanation: Blood can't hold a gavel.