Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

The idiomatic writer differs chiefly from the slangy in using what was slang and is now idiom; of what is still slang he chooses only that part which his insight assures him has the sort of merit that will preserve it.
----->
What does "he" in "he chooses only ..." refer to?
(a) the idiomatic writer
(b) the slangy writer

I think that he refers to (a), but I am not sure. This is because if the idiomatic writer uses "that part which his insight assures him has the sort of merit that will preserve it," it is not logical. I believe the idiomatic writer uses idioms, not slangs.

Thank you in advance.

[pugachevV]

He refers to the idiomatic writer. He uses only such slang as he expects will become idiom in the future.