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My writing was also ruined by highschool English rewarding large word counts and overblown language. Twitter has completely broken me of the habit, and my writing is far clearer and punchier as a result.
Eschew excess verbiage and all that.
"I am sorry I have had to write you such a long letter, but I did not have time to write you a short one" -- Blaise Pascal My writing was also ruined by highschool English rewarding large word counts and overblown language. Twitter has completely broken me of the habit, and my writing is far clearer and punchier as a result. Eschew excess verbiage and all that.
"I am sorry I have had to write you such a long letter, but I did not have time to write you a short one" -- Blaise Pascal My writing was also ruined by highschool English rewarding large word counts and overblown language. Twitter has completely broken me of the habit, and my writing is far clearer and punchier as a result. Eschew excess verbiage and all that.
Why is "excess" needed there? "Eschew verbiage" seems a better fit to its own guideline. "Verbiage" means "speech or writing that uses too many words or excessively technical expressions" so the original is something like "avoid an excess of too many words."
"I am sorry I have had to write you such a long letter, but I did not have time to write you a short one" -- Blaise Pascal My writing was also ruined by highschool English rewarding large word counts and overblown language. Twitter has completely broken me of the habit, and my writing is far clearer and punchier as a result. Eschew excess verbiage and all that.
Why is "excess" needed there? "Eschew verbiage" seems a better fit to its own guideline. "Verbiage" means "speech or writing that uses too many words or excessively technical expressions" so the original is something like "avoid an excess of too many words."
"I am sorry I have had to write you such a long letter, but I did not have time to write you a short one" -- Blaise Pascal My writing was also ruined by highschool English rewarding large word counts and overblown language. Twitter has completely broken me of the habit, and my writing is far clearer and punchier as a result. Eschew excess verbiage and all that.
It's truly amazing what you can do with so few words.
I have to disagree with this point. Using "big words" (or "fancy vocabulary words"), often makes it difficult to reach the minimum word or page count. "plant that emerges from its seed with a singular leaf" for example, is 40 characters (9 words) longer than "monocotyledon".
"I am sorry I have had to write you such a long letter, but I did not have time to write you a short one" -- Blaise Pascal My writing was also ruined by highschool English rewarding large word counts and overblown language. Twitter has completely broken me of the habit, and my writing is far clearer and punchier as a result. Eschew excess verbiage and all that.
The most eye-opening thing I've did in that regard is participate in a "microfiction" contest related to an online game, that had you tell complete stories in exactly 55 words, with a (vague) predetermined theme. It's truly amazing what you can do with so few words.
>Using big words not only improved your grade, it also took up space, getting you closer to the critical 5 page minimum. I have to disagree with this point. Using "big words" (or "fancy vocabulary words"), often makes it difficult to reach the minimum word or page count. "plant that emerges from its seed with a singular leaf" for example, is 40 characters (9 words) longer than "monocotyledon".