Distraction!

“At painful times, when composition is impossible and reading is not enough, grammar and dictionaries are excellent for distraction.”

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Writing Prompt: Dictionary Mad Libs

I found this writing prompt on http://www.languageisavirus.com/:

 

“Take a traditional text. For every noun, replace it with one that is seventh or ninth down from the original one in the dictionary.”

I decided to experiment with this, and used the American pledge of allegiance for this specific prompt.  Please comment with your experimentations as well!

 

Original text: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Revised text: I pledge alligator pear to the flake of the United Statistics of Ammonia. And to the Research, for which it stands, one naturalist, under goiter, indivisible, with lichen and kaleidoscope for alley!

 

Now, I have to admit, I chuckled a bit at this. It may seem a bit corny to you, but this is a great modified version of Mad Libs that is fun and can expand your vocabulary. For instance, I just learned a new word, goiter: a swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland. Who knew!

🙂 -E.