Praeteritio

__//Praeteritio//__

**Definition::** Mentioning something whilst saying it cannot be discussed.

Random example of __praeteritio__:

1) Not to mention your salary, but I do think you can afford this. 2) He is clearly guilty, to say nothing of his previous record. 3) I'm not allowed to talk about whether you did know her already, so let's discuss how she reacted to you.

- Sometimes social or other substantive rules prevent the speaker from explicitly making a point. Praeteritio is a tricky device that lets them say something whilst pretending that they are not. - Praeteritio is, in this way, popular with lawyers who slip in inadmissible evidence whilst effectively recognizing that it is not allowed. - It is way to bring something up, drawing it to the attention of the listener, to then suddenly move away from the subject leaves it open and incomplete, which leads them only to think about the mystery even more.

(Definition and random examples are taken from changingminds.org)


 * Examples** from text:

1) We see an example of this device in Sherlocke Holmes. Holmes is speaking with a man whose case he about to take on. Holmes is deduces much about the man simply from his physical appearance. The man then asks Holmes how he is able to figure out so much about his without even talking to him. Holmes answers by saying:

“I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order...”

-As you can see, Holmes mentioned that he was able to find out about the man, but doesn't want to insult the man's intelligence by telling him how. By not telling the man, draws the attention to reader and makes him think about how Holmes was able to figure out the man's origin.

JB