Dovina6 Dec 2004

“Shocked with dismay,” “abysmal outcome,” and “urging your use of strong language,” are inelegant because they use ordinary words with their ordinary definitions to point out your prudish arrogance. Your elegant “mouth plums” relies on cultural setting and carries an air of aristocracy – an elegant Briticism. “Howdy!” and “Y'all!” are particular to sections of the US, not general Americanisms.