Monday, February 27, 2012

Clutter the Disease of Good Writing


William Zinsser, in his book On Writing Well, says, "Clutter is the disease of American Writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompus frills and meaningless jargon."

We especially notice this in an election year--political retoric and hype. Nothing is as it seems. There is no such thing as straight talk.

"Political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefenseible...Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemismns, questions-begging, and sheer cloudy vagness."George Orwell

Not just a nusance but a deadly tool, the English language. Eliminate the clutter disease and your work will sparkle like all good writing should.

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