Programming is like writing. There are some general rules that will usually make your meaning clearer. There are also exceptions. Begin following the rules, pri

Programming is like writing. There are some general rules that will usually make your meaning clearer. There are also exceptions. Begin following the rules, prioritize clarity and semantics, identify when breaking a rule would make your meaning clearer and break away. At the end of the day, you're still just communicating--in communication clarity is key. You must also keep your audience in mind. Thus, if your company follows conventions you stick to them, as your audience will be able to digest said conventions quickly. It's all language. Programming only has the additional wrinkle that you are also communicating with a computer--which prioritizes very different things than human readers (efficiency, memory management, etc.)