Re: Mixing metaphors?

[Geoff Lane <geoff -at- gjctech -dot- co -dot- uk>]

On Friday, January 29, 2010, Deborah Hemstreet wrote;

> Wow, a lot of food for thought...

> Well, here is the context:

> However, increased XXX capacity can be a two-edged sword. On one hand, 
> it significantly enables lower cost functionality. But on the other 
> hand, the increasing complexity and cost of XXX designs has prevented 
> many vendors from using, or taking full advantage of, the capabilities 
> of XXX.

> MUDDIER and muddier, one hand is good, the other is bad... and if I CUT 
> you with a two-edged sword you are more seriously wounded than with a 
> single-edged sword...

> The client wants this a INFORMAL and UNTECHNICAL as possible (ARGH)!
---

Just to throw in another wobbly: I'd not heard a of a "two-edged
sword" until this thread. Where I live, it's "double-edged", which is
in the OED with the meaning, "adj. presenting both a danger and an
advantage." So if you leave out the word "sword" you're left with
correct English and a single metaphor, viz:

However, increased XXX capacity can be double-edged. On one hand, it
significantly enables ...

HTH,

-- 
Geoff

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