Writing should be clear and concise - I would refer anyone interested in the particulars of how to achieve that to Strunk & White's 'The Elements of Style'. I would also encourage reading Orwell's various essays on writing, including the appendices to '1984', for what I consider to be a measured approach to practical writing, particularly of the informative variety.
For ease of practical use, longer lists (like the shopping list given above) should be itemized by line, so items can be checked off:
Longer sentences are fine, and in some legal or technical writing may even be required, but for many other types of writing the attempt to string together more than a couple of clauses tends to obfuscate rather than illuminate. Best to keep them short and allow the train of thought to proceed in a more linear manner. Paragraphs, too, can be kept short in more casual writing.
Punctuation like colons, semicolons, various hyphens and dashes and slashes and strokes, and parentheses and brackets all have their uses, but tend to interrupt the flow of the language. Again, these are better left to the informative, and particularly technical or legal, end of things. In many cases a sentence break is a better option in casual writing.
On a related note: at smaller sizes, a sans-serif typeface will generally tend to be more legible than a serif typeface. There are of course serif options designed for smaller sizes, but on the internet there is always the possibility that the end-user's computer will make some kind of substitution, so best practice is to stick with a sans-serif option unless there's a compelling reason to do otherwise.
Writing should be clear and concise - I would refer anyone interested in the particulars of how to achieve that to Strunk & White's 'The Elements of Style'. I would also encourage reading Orwell's various essays on writing, including the appendices to '1984', for what I consider to be a measured approach to practical writing, particularly of the informative variety.
For ease of practical use, longer lists (like the shopping list given above) should be itemized by line, so items can be checked off:
Longer sentences are fine, and in some legal or technical writing may even be required, but for many other types of writing the attempt to string together more than a couple of clauses tends to obfuscate rather than illuminate. Best to keep them short and allow the train of thought to proceed in a more linear manner. Paragraphs, too, can be kept short in more casual writing.
Punctuation like colons, semicolons, various hyphens and dashes and slashes and strokes, and brackets all have their uses, but tend to interrupt the flow of the language. Again, these are better left to the informative, and particularly technical or legal, end of things.
On a related note: at smaller sizes, a sans-serif typeface will generally tend to be more legible than a serif typeface. There are of course serif options designed for smaller sizes, but on the internet there is always the possibility that the end-user's computer will make some kind of substitution, so best practice is to stick with a sans-serif option unless there's a compelling reason to do otherwise.
Thank you for saying this so clearly yet so concisely. You have summarized my entire position on that conversation. I'm glad you made reference to Orwell's writings as preface to 1984.
In terms of fonts, while always using sans-serif can be an easy solution, using a serif font as a title or as a way to bring attention to specific parts is an effective if subtle tool that I recommend to everyone.
I would say that colon and semi-colon, as well as parenthetical statements, can be included in normal speech without much issue of understanding.
Hyphenation is straight-up awesome, yo! I don't think you should gatekeep that to be only in formal speech.
I also got some good shitposts. I hope I can release it . Just finished writing all of your 3 fates.
I'll add a beach episode as a little bonus for the delay
Writing should be clear and concise - I would refer anyone interested in the particulars of how to achieve that to Strunk & White's 'The Elements of Style'. I would also encourage reading Orwell's various essays on writing, including the appendices to '1984', for what I consider to be a measured approach to practical writing, particularly of the informative variety.
For ease of practical use, longer lists (like the shopping list given above) should be itemized by line, so items can be checked off:
Longer sentences are fine, and in some legal or technical writing may even be required, but for many other types of writing the attempt to string together more than a couple of clauses tends to obfuscate rather than illuminate. Best to keep them short and allow the train of thought to proceed in a more linear manner. Paragraphs, too, can be kept short in more casual writing.
Punctuation like colons, semicolons, various hyphens and dashes and slashes and strokes, and parentheses and brackets all have their uses, but tend to interrupt the flow of the language. Again, these are better left to the informative, and particularly technical or legal, end of things. In many cases a sentence break is a better option in casual writing.
On a related note: at smaller sizes, a sans-serif typeface will generally tend to be more legible than a serif typeface. There are of course serif options designed for smaller sizes, but on the internet there is always the possibility that the end-user's computer will make some kind of substitution, so best practice is to stick with a sans-serif option unless there's a compelling reason to do otherwise.
I don't have a problem using either - I do it quite a bit in my emails for work (which probably causes my co-workers a certain degree of consternation) - but in a more relaxed setting it can be a bit jarring; it breaks up the flow in a manner which tends to cause a certain degree of dis-ease, IMHO.
I don't have a problem using either - I do it quite a bit in my emails for work (which probably causes my co-workers a certain degree of consternation) - but in a more relaxed setting it can be a bit jarring; it breaks up the flow in a manner which tends to cause a certain degree of disease, IMHO.
I don't have a problem using either - I do it quite a bit in my emails for work (which probably causes my co-workers a certain degree of consternation) - but in a more relaxed setting it can be a bit jarring; it breaks up the flow in a manner which tends to cause a certain degree of disease, IMHO.
I think it actually makes your messages read as though you are saying them. Your intonation (such as where you pause) is important to building emotional communication. Using breaks (like your dashed statement or your parenthetical) better communicates how you intended your text to be read.
I AM FROM THE PROUD VILLAGE OF PYRGETOS.
MY FATHER BEFORE ME WAS FROM THIS VILLAGE.
I AM FROM THE FOOTHILLS OF OLYMPOS...
YOU GERMANS...
SO COCKY....
YOU THINK YOU'RE THE CREAM OF THE CROP... MAYBE YOU'RE JUST THE POOP IN FHE SOCK!
GREEKS... ITALIANS.... PORTUGESE... SPANIARDS... IT MATTERS NOT... IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT ME ANYMORE...
I FEEL THE HEARTS OF EVERY EUROPOOR NATION, BEATING, ECHOING AS ONE...
ALL WITH THE SOLE DESIRE TO Defeat YOU
...
I AM FROM THE PROUD VILLAGE OF PYRGETOS.
MY FATHER BEFORE ME WAS FROM THIS VILLAGE.
I AM FROM THE FOOTHILLS OF OLYMPOS...
YOU GERMANS...
SO COCKY....
YOU THINK YOU'RE THE CREAM OF THE CROP... MAYBE YOU'RE JUST THE POOP IN FHE SOCK!
GREEKS... ITALIANS.... PORTUGESE... SPANIARDS... IT MATTERS NOT... IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT ME ANYMORE...
I FEEL THE HEARTS OF EVERY EUROPOOR NATION, BEATING, ECHOING AS ONE...
ALL WITH THE SOLE DESIRE TO Defeat YOU
...