alexpgp | It occurs to me...

I have always had a problem with the common formulations "... to be honest, ...," and "... to tell you the truth, ...," as they suggest the speaker is, by nature, not an honest person (my inner voice almost always whispers "you mean you've been lying to me all this time?").

I much prefer "...to be frank... ."

Which is what I think is meant, anyway, in everyday conversation. At least, it's what I mean, on those occasions when I want to be frank.

Now, some might say that "frank" is just a sugar-coated version of "honest," but I would disagree, and maintain that "frank" is a sugar-free version of "honest," where the latter describes "the way things are."

For example, if you want me to translate a document that you provide in an uneditable file format, where the text is marginally legible and strangely formatted, where many illustrations have embedded text, and where every other page is cut off about a tenth of an inch short of the text width, then I am being nothing other than honest in charging an arm and a leg for the work, and nothing other than frank in explaining why.

This "freewheel" needs more work. I need to get ready for taiji.

Cheers...