It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
— Jane Austen
Read the full supplied practice passage
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
Words to notice in this passage
Find these phrases in the supplied text. What changes if you remove or replace them?
- It is a truth universally acknowledged
- the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters
Why read both excerpts?
The opening uses a narrator’s sweeping statement. The Mr. Bennet scene uses contrasting speech lengths and replies to reveal motives; compare how each makes the social pressure visible.
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Why This Passage Matters
The first sentence sounds like an absolute rule. The next paragraph shows whose interests make that rule convenient: the surrounding families regard an unknown man as a prospective husband for their daughters. The tension between certainty and self-interest produces the irony.
Writing Techniques to Notice
A sweeping claim:
“universally acknowledged” gives the opening the sound of settled authority.A reversal of desire:
The man is said to want a wife, but the second paragraph emphasizes what the families want for their daughters.Possessive language:
“rightful property” exposes how confidently the families assign the stranger a role before knowing him.
💡 Key Takeaway
If you open with a broad rule for irony, make the next sentence reveal the particular interest behind it.
Try the technique in your own writing
Undercut a confident rule with a specific detail
Write two or three sentences about a fictional household that claims nobody cares about winning board games. State the rule confidently, then show one small action that contradicts it. Avoid the phrase “truth universally acknowledged.”
This optional exercise practices a writing choice. Typing speed and accuracy do not grade this original writing.
One possible model and review checks
Nobody in our house takes board games seriously. This was explained to our guest while my brother checked last month’s score sheet and moved his lucky chair back to its exact place.
- The broad claim is followed by observable contradictory behavior.
- The irony comes from the detail rather than explaining the joke.
- The setting and wording are your own.
Study this technique with more examples · Try a guided original-writing assignment
Learn This Technique
Chapter 3: Curiosity Hooks
The opening line that forces you to keep reading.
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