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Write like you talk

paulgraham.com

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Re: Write like you talk

#271

Post by PantaloonFlames »

hugh4 wrote: post #172
aWidebrant wrote: post #54

"Write like you talk" is bad advice twice: It encourages rambling, which - unlike in a conversation - the reader has no means to interrupt, and it offers no clear rules to follow while writing. Orwell's six[1] are, in my experience, much more useful: (i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do. (iii) If it is p…

>(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. If it is possible to cut a word, always cut it. If possible to cut a word, cut it. If possible, cut. But of course "if possible" is implied, he wouldn't be advising you to do anything impossible, so just: Cut.

Twain would be pleased.

Re: Write like you talk

#272

Post by charlesism »

PantaloonFlames wrote: post #269
charlesism wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Somehow you managed to miss the point entirely. The point is not "use bad grammar, slang, and swear words." It's just " don't put on airs! " That's it! Not putting on airs means: don't use jargon if the meaning of your sentence doesn't call for it, and don't use awkward turns of phrase to make yourself sound smarter. That's easier said than done, but it goes a long way toward making your writing easy to understand.

"put on airs" - what exactly does that mean? These airs, where would one obtain them? And on what would one put these airs? on what?

Fair enough :) Writing well is hard, and I make plenty of my own mistakes.

Re: Write like you talk

#273

Post by flashman »

PantaloonFlames wrote: post #268
flashman wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a very good point, because when you're talking, like you'd talk to another person I mean, your turn at speaking generally flows into a single large sentence, which is typical turn-taking behaviour, because in a conversation the other person is always looking for cues that it's their turn to speak, and so you ah have to keep going even if it means you've wandered away from your original point.

Which is very interesting, because, in many cases you'll find people who are presenting to large groups, say, an auditorium full of people, or even just a conference room of willing attendees, in a situation in which the speaker is expected to speak at some length , and it is understood and to be expected that the audience will remain silent in order to receive the message, even in those cases, speakers will continue…

I listened to a guy from Toastmasters once, and at the start of the speech he said, "Will you please pull me up if I say 'um' or 'ah' at any point?" And he didn't, over the course of an hour or so. The trick, apparently, is to speak deliberately and know what you're going to say before you say it.

Re: Write like you talk

#274

Post by Jemmeh »

I think a lot of people are missing the point. The point isn't to be redundant and write in verbatim transcriptions. The point is to speak simply, as most people would out loud. Communication is about getting your point across.

A lot of people will write in a very formal "I am fluffing up my school essay" style which distances the reader, makes the topic more boring, and in my opinion actually makes the writing harder for most people to comprehend. You have to pause and think as opposed to just naturally getting through what you're being told.

Re: Write like you talk

#275

Post by loco5niner »

jmduke wrote: post #9

This is fairly popular advice, and I heard it at least a half dozen times at my (liberal arts) college. That's not to dismiss this post because its takeaway is commonplace: I agree with the sentiment. However, I think it's important to embrace the full implication of its thesis: Informal language is the athletic clothing of ideas. Athletic clothing is comfortable, it is functional, and it traffics in convenience. But…

Ooo... a new word! Hmmm... googling Mercurial... ((of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.) Oh! like the metal mercury, how cool is that? Rich and Vivid :-)

Re: Write like you talk

#277

Post by alexyim »

stupidcar wrote: post #38

If you've ever read a verbatim transcript of an interview or conversation, you'll know that actual speech is anything but clear. When talking off the cuff, even the most clear minded people tend to ramble, um and ahh, double back, talk across each other, and jump between points and subjects. When listening to someone in person, our brains seem to edit what they say on the fly to make it comprehendible, focusing on th…

Venkatesh Rao's description of a "writer/thinker" split is interesting and relevant here too.

I agree with the spirit of pg's essay, but I also agree that there's probably more to it.

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-tips-for-advanced-writer...

Re: Write like you talk

#279

Post by sitkack »

PantaloonFlames wrote: post #271
hugh4 wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. If it is possible to cut a word, always cut it. If possible to cut a word, cut it. If possible, cut. But of course "if possible" is implied, he wouldn't be advising you to do anything impossible, so just: Cut.

Twain would be pleased.

I miss Mark.

Re: Write like you talk

#280

Post by eecks »

OJFord wrote: post #258
eecks wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is that funny to you when he suggested putting your writing through draft stages to try achieve the "write like you talk" style?

Because when you talk you do not (and indeed cannot) do that. (I would argue preparing a speech does not count, since you are then by definition talking like you have written).

The point is that your written text reads like someone talking. It makes sense to review the text for this aim.
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