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Successor Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Much maligned

Hello,

I'd like to hear your opinion on what would be the best collocation in the following context :

Caprioli’s music was much maligned by critics and listeners alike.

Is 'severely' a viable option? Thank you.
  

Top answer

I suppose severely is technically correct, however I think it's a little bit redundant. The reason why is because maligned by itself already means something negative and already expresses an emotion that the word severely would invoke. It would be like saying "he did a severely bad job", or he ran "severely" slow.

  • I suppose severely is technically correct, however I think it's a little bit redundant.
  • The reason why is because maligned by itself already means something negative and already expresses an emotion that the word severely would invoke.
  • It would be like saying "he did a severely bad job", or he ran "severely" slow.
  • "Severely" is going to express a degree of something that is already being accomplished with the word maligned by itself.
  • I prefer "much maligned", because much maligned is what i've always heard in papers and magazines, much expresses that he was maligned often.
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1 Answers
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I suppose severely is technically correct, however I think it's a little bit redundant. The reason why is because maligned by itself already means something negative and already expresses an emotion that the word severely would invoke. It would be like saying "he did a severely bad job", or he ran "severely" slow. "Severely" is going to express a degree of something that is already being accompli

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