• How much does 'reading level' matter? [Write dumber]

    From =?UTF-8?Q?Witziges_R=c3=a4tsel?=@21:1/5 to Dr. Jai Maharaj on Sat Feb 3 10:37:33 2018
    XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.english.usage, soc.culture.usa

    On 2/2/2018 9:59 PM, Dr. Jai Maharaj wrote:

    The other lesson from this study is that we should aim to
    reduce complexity in our writing as much as possible. We
    won't lose credibility by doing so. Our readers will
    comprehend and retain our ideas more reliably. And we'll
    have a higher likelihood of reaching more people.

    Whittle it down to a bumpersticker.

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  • From Colonel Edmund J. Burke@21:1/5 to All on Sat Feb 3 08:40:43 2018
    XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.english.usage, soc.culture.usa

    On 2/3/2018 7:37 AM, Witziges Rätsel wrote:
    On 2/2/2018 9:59 PM, Dr. Jai Maharaj wrote:

    The other lesson from this study is that we should aim to
    reduce complexity in our writing as much as possible. We
    won't lose credibility by doing so. Our readers will
    comprehend and retain our ideas more reliably. And we'll
    have a higher likelihood of reaching more people.


    This idea is at least 50 years old, asswipe.

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  • From Lewis@21:1/5 to zer@roer.invalid.com on Sun Feb 4 09:05:41 2018
    XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.english.usage, soc.culture.usa

    In message <p54l00$3s9$1@dont-email.me> Witziges Rätsel <zer@roer.invalid.com> wrote:
    On 2/2/2018 9:59 PM, Dr. Jai Maharaj wrote:

    The other lesson from this study is that we should aim to
    reduce complexity in our writing as much as possible. We
    won't lose credibility by doing so. Our readers will
    comprehend and retain our ideas more reliably. And we'll
    have a higher likelihood of reaching more people.

    Whittle it down to a bumpersticker.

    If you can reduce complexity without eliminating precision, by all
    means, reduce. Granted, that assumes that the only goal of writing is to transmit information.

    This is a much harder task than most people realize.

    --
    'You have the right to remain silent,' he [Carrot] said. 'You have the
    right not to injure yourself falling down the steps on the way to the
    cells. You have the right not to jump out of high windows. You do not
    have to say anything, you see, but anything you do say, well, I have to
    take it down and it might be used as evidence.' --Guards! Guards!

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  • From Whiskers@21:1/5 to Lewis on Fri Feb 23 17:42:21 2018
    XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.english.usage, soc.culture.usa

    On 2018-02-04, Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
    In message <p54l00$3s9$1@dont-email.me> Witziges Rätsel <zer@roer.invalid.com> wrote:
    On 2/2/2018 9:59 PM, Dr. Jai Maharaj wrote:

    The other lesson from this study is that we should aim to
    reduce complexity in our writing as much as possible. We
    won't lose credibility by doing so. Our readers will
    comprehend and retain our ideas more reliably. And we'll
    have a higher likelihood of reaching more people.

    Whittle it down to a bumpersticker.

    "keep the proles ignorant"

    If you can reduce complexity without eliminating precision, by all
    means, reduce. Granted, that assumes that the only goal of writing is to transmit information.

    This is a much harder task than most people realize.

    Readers of tabloid papers have smaller vocabularies than people who do
    not read newspapers <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education/29885222>
    (November 2014).


    --
    -- ^^^^^^^^^^
    -- Whiskers
    -- ~~~~~~~~~~

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  • From RH Draney@21:1/5 to Whiskers on Fri Feb 23 17:33:33 2018
    XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.english.usage, soc.culture.usa

    On 2/23/2018 10:42 AM, Whiskers wrote:

    Readers of tabloid papers have smaller vocabularies than people who do
    not read newspapers <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education/29885222>
    (November 2014).

    Presumably people who read broadsheet newspapers have larger
    vocabularies than either....r

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  • From Peter Moylan@21:1/5 to RH Draney on Wed Feb 28 16:13:53 2018
    XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.english.usage, soc.culture.usa

    On 24/02/18 11:33, RH Draney wrote:
    On 2/23/2018 10:42 AM, Whiskers wrote:

    Readers of tabloid papers have smaller vocabularies than people
    who do not read newspapers
    <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education/29885222> (November 2014).

    Presumably people who read broadsheet newspapers have larger
    vocabularies than either....r

    That is not good news for my region. Gradually all of the broadsheets
    have turned into tabloids ... both in size and in content.

    Not only that. The packaging laws have changed, so that you can't even
    use them for wrapping fish.

    --
    Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
    Newcastle, NSW, Australia

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