Unquestionably, The Word Factory is the perfect guide to better English Grammar and effortless writing. According to one newspaper report, universities in England had begun to penalise students who employed incorrect grammar in their essays. In South Africa, the analysis of seventy-four thousand short stories found that written work of children was littered with SMS language, American slang, exclamation marks, and references to celebrities. All through my formative years, I had to contend with five different languages-English, Afrikaans, and two other dialects, which for the most part, accounted for my inability to translate thought into words effortlessly and inhibited my willingness to participate in lively social discussions especially in the course of my high school years. However, possessed of determination, I had vowed to overcome that infirmity. My need to succeed at all costs precipitated the memorisation of the entire Pocket Oxford Dictionary, an accomplishment that spanned ten long years, following which a further ten years were spent in acquainting myself with most English phrases, idiomatic expressions, and collecting the data and fully researching it. I decided to name the compilation The Word Factory. The fruits of my efforts, but more specifically the extensive employment of The Word Factory, not only marked my rise onto the podiums as master of ceremonies and public speaker, but had also enabled me to write approximately twenty-five articles to the Cape Argus, Cape Town's pre-eminent newspaper, within the space of two years, with 100 per cent publication rate.

Excerpt. � Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Word Factory

By Oscar Whinge

Partridge Africa

1. Abstinence. / Forgo. / Frugal. / Economical./, 1, 
2. Achievement. / Accomplishment. / Success. / Victory. / win. / obtain. /acquire./, 8, 
3. Women. / Beauty. / Handsome. / Adornment. / Family./, 20, 
4. Ultimate. / Supreme. / Maximum./, 34, 
5. Falsehood. / lies. / Bogus. / Inaccuracy./, 43, 
6. Dishonest./, 56, 
7. Computers. / Technology. / Science. /motoring./, 63, 
8. Affliction. / stricken. / Insensible. / wrought. / Grief./, 75, 
9. Oppressive. / harass./, 104, 
10. Gratitude. / gratify. / letter of thanks./, 109, 
11. Stupid. / Idiot. /insult./, 116, 
12. Dislike. / Hatred. / Contempt. / disdain. / envy. /scorn./, 126, 
13. Jealousy. / envy./, 146, 
14. Anger. / rage. / Fury. / annoy. / irritate./, 147, 
15. Devil. /diabolical./, 163, 
16. Rudeness. / Obnoxious. / Offensive. / unrefined. / Impropriety. /Unsuitable./, 170, 
17. Distasteful. / Unpleasant. / low-class./, 183, 
18. Captivate. / spell. / fascinate. / enthral. / distract. / Charismatic./, 95, 
19. Contentment. / Happiness. / enchanted. / thrilled. / Proud. / Enjoyment. / celebrate. / party., 212, 
20. Excitement. / wonder. / Animation. / Passion. / abandon. / Devotion./, 222, 
21. Admiration. / Applause. / impress./, 234, 
22. Pleasant. / Nice. / Delightful. / Amiable. / Charitable. / Sympathy./, 240, 
23. Kind. / Chivalrous. / Friendly. / Assistance. / Virtue. / Responsible./, 249, 
24. Money matters. /spending. / benefits. / abuse. / Prosperity. / Wasteful./, 268, 
25. Business. /, 285, 
26. Economics. /, 299, 
27. Economics and politics./, 317, 
28. Finance./, 320, 
29. Politics. / Governments./, 325, 
30. The record. / Legal./, 344, 
31. Criminal Investigation. / Trial Procedures./, 355, 
32. Crime. / Criminal. / Perpetrator./, 395, 
33. Steal. / rob. / crook./, 417, 
34. Prison. / jail./, 422, 
35. Religion./, 426, 
36. Power. / Greatness. / Iconic. /, 441, 
37. Boss. / Leader./, 453, 
38. Dominance. / Authority. /prevail. /, 460, 
39. Tyranny. / Terror. / Villainy. /Cruel. / Evil. / Badness./, 476, 
40. Attack. / Fight. / conflict. / Violence. / Aggression. / challenge./, 496, 
41. Punishment. / Retribution. / torture./, 533, 
42. Informed. / education. / Intelligence. / Knowledge. / reason. / experience./, 545, 
43. Freedom. / Liberty. / rights. / Life./, 567, 
44. Love. / Infatuation. / romance. / Flirt. / tantalize./, 576, 
45. Stir into action. / activate. / influence. / beginning. / transport. / Use./, 591, 
46. Purpose. / Intention. / Objective. / Ambition./, 619, 
47. Truth. /Truthful. / Genuine. / Loyal. / promise./, 630, 
48. Honour. / Virtue. / Straight path. / Goodness. / Honesty. / sacrifice./, 641, 
49. Respect./, 655, 
50. Disparagement. / affront. / disrespect./, 663, 
51. Dilemma. / Difficulty. / Problems. / Unable. / Incapable./, 676, 
52. Suggest. / import. / imply. / indicate. /Inferences. / Allusions. / explain./, 694, 
53. Proclaim. / assert./, 705, 
54. Surpass. / Exceedingly. /Pushing the limits. / Beyond the pale./, 709, 
55. Progress. / advance. / evolve. / change. / expand./, 723, 
56. Determination. / resolve. / endure. / Optimism./, 734, 
57. Destruction. / destroy. / dismantle. /break up./, 757, 
58. Marriage related./, 768, 
59. Pressure. / pressurise. / persuade. / force. / obligation./, 775, 
60. Enhance. /overdo. / exaggerates. / Excessive./, 786, 
61. Secret./, 801, 
62. Gossip. /rumour. /expose. / disclose./, 812, 
63. Eloquence. / articulate./, 816, 
64. Separate the men from the boys. / differentiate. / put to the test./, 820, 
65. Consequence. / ramify. / Outcome./, 824, 
66. Demand. /Demanding. / instruct. / Imperious. / Peremptory. / Robust. / Forceful./, 833, 
67. Class and class-distinction. / Manners. / breeding. / Snobbish./, 844, 
68. Disaster. / Failure. / defeat. /despair. / bow out. / disappoint./, 851, 
69. Recommend. / propose. / promulgate. / introduce./, 867, 
70. Delicious. / food./, 871, 
71. Nonsense. / Gibberish./, 875, 
72. Reluctance. / disinclined. / indisposed. / Unwilling. /recede./, 879, 
73. Servants. / Worker. /employment./, 881,

CHAPTER 1

{Abstinence. / Forgo. / Frugal. / Economical. /}

- The chateau was being run on lines of the strictest teetotalism(complete abstinence from alcohol/free from alcohol/ alcohol-free/ abstemiousness/ abstinence and self-denial/ abstention/ sobriety/ asceticism/ prohibition/ temperance/ non-indulgence/ be on the wagon/ascetic devotion)

~ Take, for example, the editor of the Newspacket. I suppose there wasn't a greater temperance advocate in town. {Stephen Leacock, Sunshine Sketches}_(One who publicly supports and recommends the prohibited use or total abstention from alcoholic liquors)

-They gave her a sobriety test. (The state or quality of being sober {Dictionary.com} abstemiousness/ abstinence/ temperance/ moderation/ soberness/ clear-headedness/ calm/ sedateness/ staidness)

~ Don't break your sobriety.

~ He preached sobriety to everyone he met.

-I'll just have a club soda with a twist of lime please. I'm on the wagon you know. (Teetotal {Oxford Dictionary}/ abstemious/ abstinent /dry/ non-drinking/ sober/ clear-headed/ temperate/ moderate/ restrained)

~ After 10 dry years, he's fallen off the wagon again. (Resumed his drinking habit)

~ He did eliminate it (the liquor habit), save for mild relapses on festive occasions {American Winston Churchill, a Far Country} (falling off the wagon)

~ He had a low tolerance level to alcohol; he got drunk easily.

~ He had a legendary hollow leg.

-None of the lubricated members of the town's drinking circuit ever committed murder. (Hard drinkers/ social drinkers/ alcoholics/ boozy /vinous/ spirituous/ boozer/ toper/ spongers/ guzzlers/ drunkards/ sots/ tippler/ wino/ dipsomaniacs/ inebriate/ bibber/ alko/ Alco)

~ We drank enough between us to fill a bath. (Gallons)

-In my state of clairvoyance, I perceived that he was a better man, than I, and that his lapses proceeded from a love of liquor and the transcendent sense of good-fellowship that liquor brings. {American Winston Churchill, a Far Country} (Lying beyond the ordinary range of perception {Farlex} unlimited/ otherworldly/ mystical/ awe-inspiring/ great/ supreme/ unequalled/ unmatched/ divine/ perfect/ moving/ grand, extraordinary and sublime/ superior/ excellent/ consoling and inspiring/ a relish for the sublime)

~ If merely 'feeling good' could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience. {William James}

-Lunch was frugal in content and short in duration. (Below the standard in extent, quantity, duration, etc.: short measure/having a scanty or insufficient amount of (often followed by in or on){Dictionary.com}) (Figure of speech apposition: The placement side-by-side of two coordinate elements (noun phrases), viz. [Lunch was 'frugal' and 'short in duration'], the second of which serves to identify or rename the first/ thrifty/ prudent/ economical/ sparing/ penny-wise/ parsimonious/ meagre/ not enough/ too little/ insufficient/ inadequate/ paltry/ bitty/ grudging, wretched and frugal/ excessively frugal)

~ Lunch was frugal today. {David Williams, 'Unholy Writ'.} (Economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: {Dictionary.com)

~ Some (money) had been saved enough for him and Nancy to live on in the old house, with careful economy.{ American Winston Churchill, a Far Country}

~ -He was frugal about the gifts but they were cute. (Cheap; not costly/cheapjack=seller of inferior goods, typically one at a fair or market/ of inferior quality {Oxford Dictionary}/_on the cheap=at a low cost {Oxford Dictionary})

-Abstinence is a good thing, but it should always be practiced in moderation. {Anonymous} (A voluntary restraint from any indulgence of appetite, and from the use of alcoholic beverages/Self-denial/ self-restraint/ self-discipline/ moderation/ asceticism/ severity/ austerity/ abstemious/ starkness)_Figure of speech-apposition:The placement side-by-side of two coordinate elements (noun phrases).

~ Abstinence had quickened his faculties. {Alexandre Dumas, the Count of Monte Cristo}~ He slept so badly, after this effort of self-denial, for want of the composing effect of the tobacco to which he was used, and came down morning after morning looking so haggard and worn, that Miss Rachel herself begged him to take to his cigars again. {Wilkie Collins , the Moonstone}

~ He would fight it out resolutely.

-At your age, you are still going strong. (Continuing to be healthy, vigorous or successful/still carry the world before you/ healthy, hale, sound, and wholesome/ fit/ well/ strong/ vigorous / in good physical shape/ hale and hearty/ in the pink/ in fine fettle/ healthful/ successful/ fruitful/ positive/ effective/ efficacious/ popular/ prosperous / up-and-coming/ well-off/ many a tune can still be played on this fiddle/ Bring something off=achieve something successfully {Oxford Dictionary}/ Carry all before one= overcome all opposition {Oxford Dictionary})

~ There were many Hutchinses in Elkington ... But there is always one supreme Hutchins, and Ezra was he: tall, self-contained, elderly, but well preserved through frugal living.{American Winston Churchill, a Far Country}

-We've decided to abstain from involvement.(7o refrain from something by one's own choice {Farlex} keep off/ do without/ go without/ avoid/ lay off/ not touch/ shun/ have nothing to do with/ turn your back on/ steer clear of/ disdain/ give up/ desist)

~ My wife abstained from waking me at the usual hour this morning. (Did not/ resisted/ refrained/ withdrew/ withheld/ curbed/ kerbed/ avoided/ back down/ back off/ stay away from/ stay clear of)

-I will not relinquish command just yet. (To withdraw or retreat from: leave behind/give up/ to renounce or surrender (a possession, right, etc.) {Merriam Webster}/surrender/ abandon/ renounce/ resign / give up/ stand down/ hand over/ bow out/ turn down/ let go by/ let pass)

~ All hope was relinquished.

~ In March Warren East, the company's chief executive, said he would stand down in July after 12 years in the top job. (To leave a witness stand/ to withdraw, as from active duty/ to end a state of readiness or alert/ to go off duty/ resign / step down/ quit/ bow out/ give up/ call it a day)

-He was looking at the matter altruistically.(Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness {Farlex}/ an unselfish soul/ selflessly/ nobly/ self-sacrificingly/ philanthropically/ charitably/ generously/ kindly/ sympathetically/ graciously/ benevolently/ tolerantly/ considerately / Cast one's bread upon the waters= do good without expecting gratitude or reward {Oxford Dictionary}/ Boon to society/ humane, gentle, kind, and generous)

~ My wife is a selfless altruist who, with no motive of personal gain, simply raced about the place doing good to all and sundry. (The milk of human kindness/ loving-kindness)

~ These necessary transactions did not interfere in any way with his personal relationships, and his days were filled with kindnesses. {American Winston Churchill, a Far Country}

~ They have a perceptible and prevailing colour of good nature ... {GK Chesterton, Autobiography} -Hers is a life of martyrdom for the sake of the family. (A conscious willingness to put others' needs and wants first. Ideally, this is an act of compassion out of choice rather than just a performance / the condition, sufferings, or death of a martyr/ extreme suffering; torment/ suffering/ misery/ pain/ sacrifice/ endurance/ expense/ cost / scapegoat/ forego/ forfeit /surrender/ lose/ give up/ ascetic/ austere/ abstinent/ frugal/ abstemious/ Spartan/ severe/ gallant, ardent, fearless, and self-sacrificing)

~ He sacrificed the vulgar prizes of life. {Fifteen thousand phrases}

-Repulsive little squirt would be a more apposite description, but then you're a charitable chap, Timothy. {David Williams, 'Unholy Writ'.} (Mild or tolerant in judging others; lenient/full of love and generosity/ Generous in giving money or other help to the needy {Farlex} tolerant and kindly/ considerate/ understanding/ accepting/ sympathetic/ tolerant/ gracious/ lenient/ indulgent/ give somebody the benefit of the doubt/ Nice/ exceedingly generous/benevolent/ giving/ altruistic/ helpful/ liberal/ bountiful/ open-handed / Cast one's bread upon the waters= do good without expecting gratitude or reward {Oxford Dictionary}/ The romantic ardour of a generous mind/Generous to a pathetic and touching degree/ large-hearted and magnanimous)

~ There are charitable organizations that help the needy. (Generous in giving money or other help to the needy)

-I cannot refrain, even at the risk of needless iteration, from quoting a further example. {Stephan Leacock} (To abstain from an impulse to say or do something {Dictionary.com} desist/ abstain/ cease/ renounce/ hold back/ avoid doing/ leave off/ stop/ discontinue/ halt/ control myself/ A sudden uncontrollable outburst of feeling/ uncontrollable delight)

~ Please desist from making that noise. (To stop doing something {Farlex})

-Both brother and sister remained celibate all their lives. (A person who abstains from sexual relations/ remain unmarried, especially for religious reasons/ Unmarried/ single/ unwed/ bachelor/ spinster/ abstinent/ abstemious/ continent/ virgin (al)/ pure/ chaste/ unsullied/ undefiled/ virtuous/ immaculate/ stay away from sex)

-Her chastity is still intact. (The condition or quality of being pure or chaste/ Virginity /abstention from all sexual intercourse/she is still a virgin/ Chastity/ virginity/ continence/ abstemious/ ascetic/ pure/ chaste/ unsulliedd/ Undefiled/ virtuous/ immaculate/Purity/ continence/ maidenhood/ celibacy/ abstinence/ abstention/ abstemiousness/ selfrestraint/ forbearance/ chaste and refined/ as chaste as the icicle/ pure as the azure above them/ pure as the naked heavens/ virgin grace)

~ She was a nun and had taken a vow of chastity. {Oxford Thesaurus}

-27 years of incarceration, failed to chink the Spartan armour of Nelson Mandela. (Rigorously self-disciplined or self-restrained / firm in purpose or belief/ characterized by firmness and determination/ Simple/austere/ severe/ frugal/ ascetic/ plain/ disciplined/ extreme/ strict/ stern/ bleak/ rigorous/ stringent/ abstemious/ self-denying)

~ He submitted himself to a Spartan diet. (Sparing in consumption of especially food and drink/ Simple, frugal, or austere {Farlex}

-He was an abstemious guest. {Alexandre Dumas, the Count of Monte Cristo} (Sparing or moderate in eating and drinking/ temperate in diet/ ate very little/ self-denying/ self-disciplined/ moderate/ ascetic/ sober/ temperate/ teetotal/ austere/ abstinent/ frugal/ Spartan/ severe/ abstainer) antonym: unrestrained -He lived year in and year out, covered with moss, in a remote village down in Lincolnshire, never coming up even for the Eton and Harrow match. {PG Wodehouse}) (Someone who lives in voluntary seclusion or isolation from the public and society / hermit/ reclusive/ isolated/ retired/ withdrawn from public life/ cloistered/ ascetic/ lazy/ leisure/ antisocial/ loner/ solitary/mouldering/ eremite= a hermit or recluse, especially one under a religious vowI off the beaten track=in or into an isolated place {Oxford Dictionary})

~ He lived as modestly as a hermit.

-I made myself reclusivea t the function. (A recluse is a person who lives in voluntary seclusion from the public and society {Wikipedia}/ describes a desire for seclusion or privacy/ isolated/ cloistered/ solitary/ withdrawn/ secluded/ lone/ antisocial/ ascetic/ unsociable/ unfriendly/ reserved/ keep to oneself/ kept to myself) antonym: sociable

~ He was an awkwardly social individual. (Solitary and sorely smitten soul)

-You emerge from your hermitage to provide your legion of admirers with one crisply produced state-of-the art rock n roll masterpiece. {Gary Trudeau} (The habitation of a hermit/ any secluded place of residence or habitation/ retreat/ hideaway/ haven/ sanctuary/ refuge/ hidey-hole/ asylum/ hide-out/ den/ shelter/ protection /isolation) {Dictionary.com}

~ Finally, after struggling for a time to keep up a connection in social circles, he gave it up and became a sort of hermit. {PG Wodehouse, the Rough Stuff} (One who lives in seclusion from society)

-I am exceedingly moderatein my potations. (Keeping within reasonable or suitable limits / reasonable/ moderate/ sensible/ restrained/ temperate/ adequate/ abstemious/ ascetic/ teetotal/ sober/ self-denying/ self- disciplined/ moderate and cautious)

~ Economy in pleasureis not to my taste. {Casanova]

-In spite of all that milk of human kindness, he had been consistently aloof and austere. {PG Wodehouse} (Reserved, unresponsive or reticent; indifferent/stern and cold in appearance or manner/ sombre/ grave/ morally strict/ ascetic/ serious / solemn/ grim/ earnest/ unsmiling/ austere and icy/ calm and sombre/ as austere as a Roman matron)

-No gleam of success came to brighten his austere face. {Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 'Sherlock Holmes'} (Stern and cold in appearance or manner/sombre, grave {Merriam Webster}/ serious/ strict/ stern/ grave/ rigorous/ stark/ harsh/ Spartan/ grim/ severe/ unsmiling/ harsh/ ascetic/ rigid/ sombre/ severity / asceticism/ seriousness/ self- denial/ restrictive/ harsh and austere/ Moulded by the austere hand of adversity)

~ His manner was unquestioningly austere.

~ His religion seemed woven all of austerity, contained no shining threads to catch my eye. Dreams, to him, were matters for suspicion and distrust. {American Winston Churchill, a Far Country}

-There's that sardonic smile which occasionally broke through his ascetic gloom. {Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes} (A person who leads an austerely simple life, especially one who abstains from the normal pleasures of life or denies himself or herself material satisfaction/ austere/ frugal/ abstemious/ Spartan/ severe/ abstainer/ celibate/ puritan/ penitent)

~ But of what use were such riches as his when his religion and morality compelled him to banish from him all the joys in the power of riches to bring? {American Winston Churchill, a Far Country}Asceticism)

-My portion of food was Lent en four.(Meagre and not containing meat/ modest/ paltry/ insufficient/ parsimonious/ ungenerous/ miserly/ frugal/ little/ meagre/ austere)

-She'll have to forgo those medicines. (to give up the enjoyment or advantage of: do without {Merriam Webster}/ Relinquish/ refuse/ sacrifice/ waive/ decline/ skip/ miss/ omit/ give up/ pass by/ abstain from/ go without/ do without/ give something a miss/ not bother with/ turn down)

-Lucky swore off most addictive substances. (To decide to stop doing or using something {Farlex}/renounced/ eschew/ avoid/ shun/ abjure/ disdain / have nothing to do with/ steer clear of/ give a wide berth to/ fight shy of/ turn your back on/ abstain from/ give up)

-Foodstuff containing meat is eschewed by vegetarians (To avoid; shun {Farlex}/ not liked/ shunned/ renounced / refrained from/ disdained/ abjured/ steered clear of/ keep a wide berth/condemned/ balked at/ avoided/ shied away from/ swear off/ stay away from)

~ The Blue Bulls eschewed the penalty opportunities presented to them to go for goal. (Decided not to go for goal)

-With the continuous rise in the price of fuel, it is time to trim our sails. (Make changes to suit your new circumstances/ cut your suit according to your cloth/be frugal/ thrifty/ prudent/ economical/ sparing/ careful/ pennywise/ parsimonious/ penny-pinching/ tight/ stingy/ meager / tighten one's belt= cut one's expenditure {Oxford Dictionary}/ Cut your coat to suit your cloth)

(Continues...)

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