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Omit Needless Words! (But When Are They Needless?)
An argument against seeing language as the enemy
A few years back, I read an entertaining blog post about a college writing course. The post’s author wrote dryly about the teaching assistant who graded her work, referring to him as “Mr. Could Cut,” because that was his favorite piece of advice, appearing frequently and tersely in the margins of students’ work: could cut. (At least he practiced what he preached).
Every writer has known not just one, but several teachers and editors in the vein of Mr. Could Cut. For my part, especially in the newspaper business, I’ve known editor after editor who evidently believed that Job One was making things shorter. Writers themselves internalize this ethic, ruthlessly slashing their own work.
Isn’t there something a little odd about writers and editors thinking that words are the enemy? Where does this idea come from?
Where this idea comes from
One root is clear: “The Elements of Style,” aka “Strunk and White.” Professor Strunk’s Rule №17 was, “Omit needless words.” In itself, it’s good advice. But why do so many people elevate it over the other principles found in “Elements”?