"We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely." --- Oscar Wilde
"Don't write down anything you don't believe: it's bad for your brain."1 This seems obvious: so, why is it helpful? For me: clear writing is clear thinking; returning to this mantra helps sentences, arguments, and thoughts to become more precise on the page. Side effects of this advice include: fewer adverbs, shorter abstracts, punchier intros, and improved clarity regarding the specific claims/arguments that one is making.
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