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How Absurd! “I Want to Try and Get…”
As I read stories each day, I am struck by the number of writers who use meaningless terms to try to convey their thoughts. They make no sense whatsoever.
Here’s a good example for you:
When I go home each night, I want to try and get some sleep, instead of tossing and turning all night long.
Obviously, the writer intends to go home and get some sleep. But, in their attempt to explain that thought, they get rather loose with their interpretation of how to use the English language, especially with coherence within the sentence structure.
It is quite difficult to both “try” and “get” some sleep at the same time. Instead of using the word “and”, wouldn’t it sound better to use the word “to”? Let’s change the sentence with that one minor difference:
When I go home each night, I want to try to get some sleep, instead of tossing and turning all night long.
That one-word change brings an entirely new meaning to the sentence.
The first example implies the writer may or may not get some sleep. They simultaneously sound both doubtful and convinced that they are going to get some sleep. Which is it? Are they going to try, or are they going to get?
The second example implies the writer will make a concerted attempt to get some sleep, but there are no guarantees. They may expend a lot of effort to get to sleep, but it could be fruitless.
As writers, we owe it to our readers to be clear and concise when we try to explain our thoughts. They shouldn’t be left in a confused state, wondering which example explains our intended thought.
Thanks for reading this!
