> I also find the use of statistics/citing numbers from studies to prove a point, a most boring way to argue a point in writing. This definitely depends on the

> I also find the use of statistics/citing numbers from studies to prove a point, a most boring way to argue a point in writing. This definitely depends on the point being argued, and the rigour expected by the audience. For any vaguely technical subject, it's quite possible to cite statistics to great effect, though it may not always be necessary. Actually, your comment made me think about how I respond to statistics in non-technical writing, say, in a news article or forum post. My gut reaction seems to be: "how is the author going to spin this fact, and what other evidence did they conveniently ignore because it contradicts their argument?"