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Write simply (2021)

paulgraham.com

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Re: Write simply (2021)

#51

Post by defrost »

greenie_beans wrote: post #20

proust would like a word

inviolable

    Intended for a more special and a baser use, this room, from which, in the daytime, I could see as far as the keep of Roussainville-le-Pin, was for a long time my place of refuge, doubtless because it was the only room whose door Ï was allowed to lock, whenever my occupation was such as required an inviolable solitude; reading or dreaming, secret tears or paroxysms of desire.
Although that's an English word from the Enright translation, but, hey, English is the new Lingua franca so I guess that'll do?

Re: Write simply (2021)

#52

Post by Slighted »

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #17

I get that this guy is like rich and famous and founded this website or something so people always post his stuff here but his writing always has this weird veneer of pseudo intellectual philosophy that I find very off putting.

Its not only limited to pg, either. There are lots of big-name programmers that look at their programming skills and think it means they're good to speak on other, totally unrelated topics as if they're super geniuses.

Re: Write simply (2021)

#54

Post by jjice »

ceres wrote: post #48

Does anyone know what CMS this website uses?

My assumption was always that PG's site was just hand written HTML (really just the same template with new p tags) with a link added to the essays page.

Re: Write simply (2021)

#55

Post by xyzelement »

k_roy wrote: post #15
jimmyed wrote: post #7

> And remember, if you're writing in English, that a lot of your readers won't be native English speakers Just because some readers might not be proficient in English, we have to write plainly to accommodate them? What if they are seeking prose that makes them better at the language? This is a classic symptom of not having read enough literature. There is a visceral beauty in writing, and trying to place conditions o…

In a similar vein, I got to the word "saltimbocca", two paragraphs in, and was painfully and utterly bored. And frankly, skimming the rest, I found most of the "conclusions" rather insulting. Imagine a world where fancy words can both give a simple idea, as well as provide a deeper meaning to those that look. Indeed some of the most profound and lasting prose is that which paints a scene in your mind. So what brings…

I am not exaggerating, my brain skipped reading that "the hue" paragraph of your post.

Took me a second to recognize this is exactly pg's point. I am sure it's my loss, but I bailed.

Re: Write simply (2021)

#56

Post by whoopdeepoo »

Slighted wrote: post #52
wilsonnb3 wrote: post #17

I get that this guy is like rich and famous and founded this website or something so people always post his stuff here but his writing always has this weird veneer of pseudo intellectual philosophy that I find very off putting.

Its not only limited to pg, either. There are lots of big-name programmers that look at their programming skills and think it means they're good to speak on other, totally unrelated topics as if they're super geniuses.

It's his personal website, not a philosophy journal. Can we scrutinize all your comments for subject matter expertise? What is your expertise anyway?

Re: Write simply (2021)

#57

Post by k_roy »

zug_zug wrote: post #32

I guess I always assumed that big-vocabulary is a sort of classism. It's no secret that people think that those who use large words and complex sentences see themselves as superior (e.g the atlantic). I know so many people who are very emotionally invested in "correct" grammar/english (semicolons, their/there, oxford comma) but only up to the point that they know and then are annoyed by those who take it 10% further…

> It's no secret that people think that those who use large words and complex sentences see themselves as superior (e.g the atlantic).

I have a big vocabulary. Huge. Some might say the biggest ever.

Point being, I don't use large words out of any sense of superiority, despite apparently everybody knowing that I do this to feel superior.

In fact, I feel like an ass when someone pulls out the "Well, that's a huge word".

It's embarrassing on multiple levels, and certainly not something I would strive to do on purpose. So once this has happened once or twice, I might stick to simple sentences.

Am I really being classist here? Come on

Re: Write simply (2021)

#58

Post by [deleted] »

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #17

I get that this guy is like rich and famous and founded this website or something so people always post his stuff here but his writing always has this weird veneer of pseudo intellectual philosophy that I find very off putting.

[deleted]

Re: Write simply (2021)

#59

Post by k_roy »

erk__ wrote: post #11
threeseed wrote: post #8

Also invent words wherever you can: https://twitter.com/chiefchimpanzee/status/16157090455785062...

Actually this is a point if you are not writing in English. My dad used to do some technical translations and he disliked English namely because you cannot invent words like in Danish or German, where you can just put words together to make a new one.

haha. Just saw a meme with this recently.

"Achtung! Blinkenlights! Nicht für der gefingerpoken!"

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