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Another word I often see riddled in our code base is "Obviously". It might be obvious to the original author ... but not the reader.
by itsmemattchung 5y ago
Another word I often see riddled in our code base is "Obviously". It might be obvious to the original author ... but not the reader.
- warent 5y agoYears ago, I read Michael Crichton's autobiography "Travels". In that book there is one particular part that, for whatever reason, cemented itself in my memory. He recounts how his father shared a lesson with him regarding the word "Obviously", and it was something along the lines of "If you say it's obvious, but it isn't, then you will offend someone. If it is obvious, then it's superfluous. The word 'obvious' never needs to be used" I've applied this ever since then and almost never use the word anymore. There are some rare times I find it's useful though, for example if you want to reassure someone that they come across the way they intend to, or in some positive manner: "Obviously you care a lot"
- itsmemattchung 5y agoThat's a good point. I've also tried to eliminate the word "obviously" from my vocabulary. The one exception, as you pointed out, is reassuring someone in some positive manner.
- wccrawford 5y agoI use it whenever I feel the need to say or explain something, but I'm 90% sure the listener already knows it. Failing to say could lead to a failure at a critical time, but explaining it like they're a simpleton could lead to them being upset about that. So I soften it with 'obviously'. But this almost always needs to be someone I have report with. Without knowing the listener, I can't really judge what they'd know or not. And on the web, it's probably not time-sensitive at all, and it's a lot easier to skim the explanation.
- andi999 5y agoWell it conveys the information: no further documentation on this available anywhere