more negative mischief

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

susan stamberg, on today's Morning Edition (NPR), remarked that ronald
reagan "was not afraid to mince his words", thus piling on rather too
much negation.  "didn't mince his words" would have done.  "was not
afraid to be outspoken" or "to speak clearly" would have done.  but
this version has him fearlessly mincing his words.

arnold (zwicky at csli.stanford.edu)