[PRL] Bad Writing and Bad Thinking

[Dimitris Vardoulakis]

I'm afraid these papers are the exception that proves the rule.

On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 2:25 PM, Mitchell Wand <wand at ccs.neu.edu> wrote:
> Horse-doodle.  Read Strachey  "Fundamental Concepts in Programming
> Languages" or any of Scott's early papers on semantics.
>
> On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 2:20 PM, Dimitris Vardoulakis <dimvar at ccs.neu.edu>
> wrote:
>>
>> "If you're too clear, if your sentences are too simple, your peers
>> won't take you seriously."
>>
>> I think the above sentence is the main reason why academics don't
>> write as clearly as they can.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 1:54 PM, Mitchell Wand <wand at ccs.neu.edu> wrote:
>> > Link:
>> >
>> > http://chronicle.com/article/Bad-WritingBad-Thinking/65031/?sid=pm&utm_source=pm&utm_medium=en
>> > (via shareaholic.com)
>> >
>> > Orwell leaves us with a list of simple rules:
>> >
>> > Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are
>> > used
>> > to seeing in print.
>> > Never use a long word where a short one will do.
>> > If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
>> > Never use the passive where you can use the active.
>> > Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you
>> > can
>> > think of an everyday English equivalent.
>> > Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
>> >
>> >
>> >
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>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dimitris
>>
>
>



-- 
Dimitris