What does E-Prime mean?

Definitions for E-Prime
e-prime

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word E-Prime.


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Wiktionary

  1. E-Primenoun

    A modified form of English that eliminates the verb be and thus avoids the passive voice, intended to reduce the dogmatism of language and the likelihood of misunderstanding and conflict.

  2. Etymology: Coined by its inventor, D David Bourland, Jr. (1928-2000).

Wikipedia

  1. E-Prime

    E-Prime (short for English-Prime or English Prime, sometimes denoted É or E′) denotes a restricted form of English in which authors avoid all forms of the verb to be. E-Prime excludes forms such as be, being, been, present tense forms (am, is, are), past tense forms (was, were) along with their negative contractions (isn't, aren't, wasn't, weren't), and nonstandard contractions such as ain't. E-Prime also excludes Contractions such as I'm, we're, you're, he's, she's, it's, they're, there's, here's, where's, when's, why's, how's, who's, what's, and that's. Some scholars claim that E-Prime can clarify thinking and strengthen writing, while others doubt its utility.

Wikidata

  1. E-Prime

    E-Prime is a prescriptive version of the English language that excludes all forms of the verb to be. E-Prime does not allow the conjugations of to be—be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being— the archaic forms of to be, or the contractions of to be—'s, 'm, 're. Some scholars advocate using E-Prime as a device to clarify thinking and strengthen writing. For example, the sentence "the film was good" could not be expressed under the rules of E-Prime, and the speaker might instead say "I liked the film" or "the film made me laugh". The E-Prime versions communicate the speaker's experience rather than judgment, making it harder for the writer or reader to confuse opinion with fact.

Anagrams for E-Prime »

  1. premie

  2. empire

  3. epimer

How to pronounce E-Prime?

How to say E-Prime in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of E-Prime in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of E-Prime in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of E-Prime in a Sentence

  1. Rob Peabody:

    Every time I see the prime minister, he assures me it's going to be built, so I believe that it will happen.

  2. Arisha Hatch:

    The way Keith Ellison is handling the murder of George Floyd versus the way Daniel Cameron is handling Breonna Taylor is a prime example of actually having prosecutors in place who share your values and are accountable to Black people.

  3. Jafaar Hussaini:

    Anybody, including Prime Minister Abadi, who approves the presence of American troops in Iraq should bear responsibility for triggering an all-out civil war.

  4. Ivor Gaber:

    I'm not sure they (Whittingdale and Prime Minister David Cameron) will see it as a sensible course of action to pick a fight with the BBC. I think they'll carry a big stick but they'll be careful before doing anything major.

  5. Louis Vermeil:

    The prime purpose of eloquence is to keep other people from talking.

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"E-Prime." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/E-Prime>.

Discuss these E-Prime definitions with the community:

1 Comment
  • John Howard jr.
    John Howard jr.
    I have written three novels and two children’s books without “To Be Verbs!” 

    www.mysteriousgems.net

    E-Prime offers writers and readers more cogent and descriptive language by removing useless irregular verbs as To Be. 

    Writers have credited me with the first fiction novel ever written in E-Prime. I find it useful, I employ it 100% of the time in my fiction and about 90% in other forms. 

    John 
     
    LikeReply3 years ago

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the formation of vesicles in or beneath the skin
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