> Two problems with writing: first, it looks easy because it uses the same symbols of speech; second, everyone who was taught the alphabet and basic sentence structures can produce something similar to writing when it’s not. Writers, however, know it’s painfully hard to produce one readable, unambiguous paragraph. On the other hand, casual text producers (read: the majority) think it takes nothing special to write. This amateur attitude makes writing the most misunderstood activity.
There's some irony in this first paragraph being not-so-well written, right?
> first, it looks easy because it uses the same symbols of speech
Same symbols as... speaking? as other writing? There's a comparison made here that isn't completed.
> second, everyone who was taught the alphabet and basic sentence structures can produce something similar to writing when it’s not.
Same problem; "when some writing is not actually similar to other writing" I assume was the intent, but this is a stilted way of making that point. A better (though longer) way of saying this might be, "Anyone taught the alphabet and English sentence structure can produce 'writing', but what those people produce bears little resemblance to what 'good' writing actually looks like."
I don't really want to go through and pick this whole article apart, I just thought it was interesting the author "chose" to start their article on "good writing is hard" by writing a poor opening paragraph!
There's some irony in this first paragraph being not-so-well written, right?
> first, it looks easy because it uses the same symbols of speech
Same symbols as... speaking? as other writing? There's a comparison made here that isn't completed.
> second, everyone who was taught the alphabet and basic sentence structures can produce something similar to writing when it’s not.
Same problem; "when some writing is not actually similar to other writing" I assume was the intent, but this is a stilted way of making that point. A better (though longer) way of saying this might be, "Anyone taught the alphabet and English sentence structure can produce 'writing', but what those people produce bears little resemblance to what 'good' writing actually looks like."
I don't really want to go through and pick this whole article apart, I just thought it was interesting the author "chose" to start their article on "good writing is hard" by writing a poor opening paragraph!