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Based on your list of how you like to write English, I agree. But I think your list is way off-base when it comes to human languages. The beauty of human langu
by strommen 11y ago
Based on your list of how you like to write English, I agree.
But I think your list is way off-base when it comes to human languages.
The beauty of human language is that it allows us to express our individuality as humans.
There are an infinite number of ways to write the same thing, and each author can have a unique style based on how they choose their words, structure their sentences, etc.
This is fantastic, and is truly one of the pillars of a free society.
Consider "Newspeak" in Orwell's 1984 - its entire purpose was to eliminate free thought by eliminating choices in writing and speech.
Now in computer programming, I think unique styles are to be strictly avoided.
A Newspeak-ish programming language that minimized the ability to write "creatively" would actually be pretty nice.
- glhaynes 11y agoWouldn't want a novelist to strictly follow that list, but I wouldn't mind a technical writer doing so.
- SpaceCadetJones 11y agoYes, with technical writing I (generally) just want the author to help me get the information into my mind with minimal cognitive effort. There are times where being poetic can help, such as selling me on a new programming model, but most technical writing out there is too long winded for my taste.
- saulrh 11y agoDifferent guidelines for different writing. I will readily agree that this list would result in awful poetry, but then again, uniqueness and individuality would result in equally awful technical writing. So it's not that this list is off-base for human languages. Rather, it's off-base for art.