E Prime (General Semantics)

We see the misuse and overuse of the verb "to be" by English speakers as a kind of linguistic addiction. It allows us to play God using the omniscient "Deity Mode" of speech, as when we say "That is the truth". It allows even the most ignorant to transform their opinions magically into god like pronouncements on the nature of things. Its overuse allows one to communicate sloppily without unduly taxing the brain by trying to come up with more appropriate verbs.

In the context of poetry, the E-Prime user may lose some of the power of metaphor ("He is a tiger"), although one can compensate for this loss by using similes ("He acts like a tiger!"). On the other hand, poets who use E-Prime will find themselves forced to vary their verb choices, a process that can add to the evocative power of a poem. E Prime also forces a substantial reduction in the use of the passive voice ("It was done" ), but except in special instances, such a reduction would usually prove beneficial, rather than detrimental.