This was originally posted on the Minnesota State Bar Association’s blog. 

Imagine hunkering down with a hotdog and a beer in the new Twins stadium next summer and hearing the ump yell, “BEGIN THE PLAYING OF BASEBALL BY THROWING THE BALL.” Hmmm. Doesn’t quite have the same punch as “PLAY BALL” does it?

Why? Well one reason is that the ump used “play” as a verb. In my initial version, I added –ing.  Presto, the verb “play” morphed into a noun and the sentence got longer. [Read more…]