Now that is interesting, Schoolmarm - I do tend to use that type of phrasing from time to time, but have no idea how frequent it is.
I like the suggestion that it's not too bad if used only once on a page; I'll have to keep a look out for that one.
I suppose it's like just about any stylistic device: they're fine unless they're over-used, and when they're over-used they tend to leap out at the reader and distract from the story.
Wendy
