Rudolf Flesch's Rules: 25 Tips for Powerful Writing

The Book: How to Write, Speak and Think More Effectively ^ | 1/24/2017 | Rudolph Flesch

[Dan Baker]

Thanks for your comments.

I think you’re correct about exclamation points. This is old advice. For the web especially, sprinkling some exclamation points around — if not done too much — is effective.

On the use of feminine pronouns, I do this occasionally and no one has complained. I would be curious to hear what others think about that.

I actually prefer to alternate “he” or “she” as opposed to using “they” when it’s a single person.

Cheers.

[V K Lee]

This comes back to bite frequently. When reading AA, would this mean Alcoholics Anonymous or Affirmative Action? One's writing skill is learned at an early age and learned according to the instructor's rules. Example: A teacher taught junior high English. She required the use of complete words - NOT contractions. She refused to use them, even in speaking.

[Dan Baker]

Thanks. Yes, removing the thats is something i learned in the book too.

I think people will be surprised at the varied and well-written content in this book. It's not a boring course in writing at all.

Each chapter of the book stands on its own. And you learn about writing from many angles and in many situations.

[Auntie Mame]

I read this book twice many many years ago and may even have a copy somewhere around here. Finding it is a different matter. I remember particularly he said about the Chinese language. Do you remember what that was about?

[Dan Baker]

Hi Mame,

Yes, I do remember the chapter on Chinese.

The point of that chapter is show how Chinese is stripped to the bone — no articles, no unnecessary words and (as I recall) no verbs/nouns, no verb forms, no weird idioms.

So an English sentence like:
A man will biting the dog.

In Chinese that would be:
Man bite dog tomorrow.

Now I remember point this chapter out to my daughter who learned Mandarin in college and she said it’s more or less true.

But I wouldn’t wish the Chinese language on anybody because of the tonal fluctuations you need to speak it. My daughter learned it and it was fun to listen to here speak it.