Comments on: The best writing is not the same as the clearest writing. http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/ Curious | Cute | Comical | Crazy Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:53:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: John Lumgair http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28508 John Lumgair Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:48:41 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28508 Good question/statement. Surly it depends on your intention is in writing? If you aim to communicate something like "danger sharks" that must be understood without much difficulty, by the widest audience. If you are wanting to express a contradictory feeling, then clarity wouldn't necessarily make it better. I remember reading John Donne's poems at school and being really impressed, not by his clarity but his ambiguity. That was great writing! Also something can be clear to one audience and oblique to another. I remember seeing an interview with Tony Blair's old speech writer. He said, that as society becomes more fragmented, it's impossible to illustrate anything with a cultural reference that would be university understood. The result of this is that mass communication will lack some of the richness of a shared cultural understanding. I would guess that the best writing is writing,is one that achieve the aims of the author. Good question/statement. Surly it depends on your intention is in writing? If you aim to communicate something like “danger sharks” that must be understood without much difficulty, by the widest audience.

If you are wanting to express a contradictory feeling, then clarity wouldn’t necessarily make it better. I remember reading John Donne’s poems at school and being really impressed, not by his clarity but his ambiguity. That was great writing!

Also something can be clear to one audience and oblique to another. I remember seeing an interview with Tony Blair’s old speech writer. He said, that as society becomes more fragmented, it’s impossible to illustrate anything with a cultural reference that would be university understood. The result of this is that mass communication will lack some of the richness of a shared cultural understanding.

I would guess that the best writing is writing,is one that achieve the aims of the author.

]]> By: Garrett Wishall http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28507 Garrett Wishall Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:19:37 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28507 Well said. I face this issue consistently in sermon/teaching preparation. There are always potential ways to fall of the road on either side of every biblical truth. A good way to get nowhere is trying to address every possible question about your topic. It is best to focus your attention on the points you are trying to make and make them. Well. It takes discernment then to know which voices need to be addressed and which don't. Well said. I face this issue consistently in sermon/teaching preparation. There are always potential ways to fall of the road on either side of every biblical truth. A good way to get nowhere is trying to address every possible question about your topic. It is best to focus your attention on the points you are trying to make and make them. Well. It takes discernment then to know which voices need to be addressed and which don’t.

]]> By: Abraham Piper http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28506 Abraham Piper Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:05:51 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28506 I agree, Ben. I definitely put the blame mainly on myself when I'm misunderstood. What tends to make writing dull, I think, is over-explaining to try to circumvent the need to answer any follow-up questions. I agree, Ben. I definitely put the blame mainly on myself when I’m misunderstood.

What tends to make writing dull, I think, is over-explaining to try to circumvent the need to answer any follow-up questions.

]]> By: Ben http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28505 Ben Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:44:26 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28505 I suppose if the standard is "all possible" confusion, that's undeniably true. But if you take it down just a notch to "any reasonable confusion," that's a very attainable goal. I think if you're a talented writer you can and should aspire to write well enough that no reasonably intelligent, reasonably open-minded, reasonably literate person can misunderstand the ideas and/or facts you're trying to express. I've spent eight years of my life writing full time and when people misunderstand what I write, I usually consider it a sign that I didn't do a good enough job. If you're a good enough writer, you can be concise, effective, and broadly understandable. (This applies only to non-fiction writing, of course. Fiction is an entirely different matter) I suppose if the standard is “all possible” confusion, that’s undeniably true.
But if you take it down just a notch to “any reasonable confusion,” that’s a very attainable goal. I think if you’re a talented writer you can and should aspire to write well enough that no reasonably intelligent, reasonably open-minded, reasonably literate person can misunderstand the ideas and/or facts you’re trying to express.
I’ve spent eight years of my life writing full time and when people misunderstand what I write, I usually consider it a sign that I didn’t do a good enough job. If you’re a good enough writer, you can be concise, effective, and broadly understandable.
(This applies only to non-fiction writing, of course. Fiction is an entirely different matter)

]]> By: s.d. smith http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28504 s.d. smith Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:13:23 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28504 Are you saying I'm fat? Are you saying I’m fat?

]]> By: Myrddin http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28503 Myrddin Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:27:22 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28503 True. True.

]]> By: Chris http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28502 Chris Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:37:22 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28502 Ain't it the truth. Thanks for the encouragement... Ain’t it the truth. Thanks for the encouragement…

]]> By: Barry Wallace http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28501 Barry Wallace Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:46:34 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28501 Frank, Just curious... how did I miss the reason Jesus spoke ambiguously? I'm quite clear on the fact that he did so intentionally. My object was simply to reinforce Abraham's point--that even perfect, infallible speech or writing (which may include intentionally and purposefully ambiguous communication) may be misunderstood. Perhaps I was just misunderstood. Frank,

Just curious… how did I miss the reason Jesus spoke ambiguously? I’m quite clear on the fact that he did so intentionally. My object was simply to reinforce Abraham’s point–that even perfect, infallible speech or writing (which may include intentionally and purposefully ambiguous communication) may be misunderstood.

Perhaps I was just misunderstood.

]]> By: Frank Turk http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28500 Frank Turk Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:21:12 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28500 Ok, two things: [1] While what Barry Wallace said is "true" (Jesus often spoke ambiguously), he misses <i>the reason Jesus did so</i>. [2] I think Abraham's point here is a great one if we understand that great writing seeks to do what it seeks to do -- and not more than that, and not less. You know: trying to outflank anticipated critics is the work of hacks. Say what you mean to say, say it the way you intend to say it, have a little verve, and let the dead bury the dead. Ok, two things:

[1] While what Barry Wallace said is “true” (Jesus often spoke ambiguously), he misses the reason Jesus did so.

[2] I think Abraham’s point here is a great one if we understand that great writing seeks to do what it seeks to do — and not more than that, and not less. You know: trying to outflank anticipated critics is the work of hacks. Say what you mean to say, say it the way you intend to say it, have a little verve, and let the dead bury the dead.

]]> By: carissa http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28496 carissa Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:30:04 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28496 yeah, this consistency and clarity thing is overrated. :] no but seriously. yeah, this consistency and clarity thing is overrated. :]

no but seriously.

]]> By: Laurie http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28497 Laurie Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:12:33 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28497 "And most of the time, people won't take the time to ask. They'll just assume you're an ignorant jerk and move on." “And most of the time, people won’t take the time to ask. They’ll just assume you’re an ignorant jerk and move on.”

]]> By: gary chilo http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28499 gary chilo Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:44:03 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28499 I was trying to think of something to witty to say but i have nothing. Let it just be said that i agree. I was trying to think of something to witty to say but i have nothing. Let it just be said that i agree.

]]> By: Barry Wallace http://twentytwowords.com/2008/11/25/the-best-writing-is-not-the-same-as-the-clearest-writing/#comment-28498 Barry Wallace Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:17:16 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=1590#comment-28498 Jesus was speaking, not writing, but he was certainly ambiguous at times and often misunderstood. If that's true of <i>inspired</i> speech (or writing) how much truer is it of our best efforts? Jesus was speaking, not writing, but he was certainly ambiguous at times and often misunderstood. If that’s true of inspired speech (or writing) how much truer is it of our best efforts?

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