Elementary... My Dear Watson!

Elementary, My Dear Watson

I fell under Sherlock Holmes’ spell during the summer break of ninth standard, and devoured the entire collection. Once you have tasted such a thing, the hangover stays throughout life.

(Never start an article or story this way. It’s an unabashed proof of your incompetence, and mars the reader’s interest instead of arousing it.)

Dictionary describes ‘Elementariness’ as ‘Constituting the basic, essential, intrinsic, or fundamental part.’ In simple terms, it’s something about the simplest aspects of something.

(Bad. That’s BAD sentence formation! And, vague.)

So, what is the significance of ‘simplest aspects’ in general? ‘A lot’, says the heart. ‘Not much’, says the brain. Example – No building can stand without a foundation, bricks and cement. However, these are mere essentials, and won’t make it stand apart. Exteriors like paint, design and lighting will.

(You think you are making any sense?! At least be clear about the topic.)

Actually, "Elementary, my dear Watson," is the signature phrase indelibly associated with Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective created by writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. However, it did not originate as it is; it’s an extension of the original words.

Many signature phrases are "false" as they were never uttered by the persons with whom they are linked — e.g. it can be an apocryphal saying assigned to someone deemed likely to have said it, or a real quote that has been mistakenly attributed to the wrong source, or a shortening, paraphrase, or rewording of something the person did say. The present case falls in latter category.

In Doyle's own writings, the bit of dialogue that comes closest to matching the famous Holmes signature phrase is this exchange between Holmes and Dr. Watson in the short story "The Crooked Man":

(I must take the liberty of quoting straight from the novel I see on my shelf.)

"I see that you are professionally rather busy just now," said he, glancing very keenly across at me.

"Yes, I've had a busy day," I answered. "It may seem very foolish in your eyes," I added, "but really I don't know how you deduced it."

Holmes chuckled to himself.

"I have the advantage of knowing your habits, my dear Watson," said he. "When your round is a short one you walk, and when it is a long one you use a hansom. As I perceive that your boots, although used, are by no means dirty, I cannot doubt that you are at present busy enough to justify the hansom."

"Excellent!" I cried.

"Elementary," said he.


(Sir Arthur was definitely a very articulate writer. Learn something, you dummy!)

Philosophically, there is elementariness to everything and everyone. Emotionally, it’s something we should be aware of, and master successfully. Technically, my elementary inner saboteur has been too overt throughout this writing, so I’ll shut up now.