Louise Gluck Quotes

Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all.

The finest language is mostly made up of simple unimposing words.

Short words are best and the old words when short are best of all.

The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words.

Clarity of communication is important.

Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

Good writing does not come from verbiage but from words.

Words easy to be understood do often hit the mark; when high and learned ones do only pierce the air.

I don't say I was 'proceeding down a thoroughfare;' I say I 'walked down the road'. I don't say I 'passed a hallowed institute of learning;' I say I 'passed a school'.

Always write as if you are talking to someone. It works. Don't put on any fancy phrases or accents or things you wouldn't say in real life.

I analyse in my own way, in very simple, no-jargon language. If somebody is talking in very complicated way, I never like that.

In prose, I think you sometimes have to write in very plain language, where every line may not seem to be so important, though in all writing every line is important.

I just write like a grown man, because that's what I listen to. I'm not even speaking complicated English... I don't do five-syllable words, I don't do four-syllable words. This is English. Rudimentary English.

I don't use a lot of words unnecessarily.

My favourite writers are always great storytellers, like Bruce Springsteen; I adore Bruce Springsteen. I feel like he doesn't beat around the bush, and he doesn't overcomplicate things. He puts things into layman's terms and tells stories that anyone can understand.

I write in quite a simple way because that's just the way I write. The vocab I use is quite wee. That's just the way I talk.

We should constantly use the most common, little, easy words which our language affords.

Eloquence must be grounded on the plainest narrative.

Uncommon things must be said in common words.

One of the really bad things you can do to your writing is to dress up the vocabulary, looking for long words because you're maybe a little bit ashamed of your short ones. This is like dressing up a household pet in evening clothes. The pet is embarrassed and the person who committed this act of premeditated cuteness should be even more embarrassed.

Usage is the only test. I prefer a phrase that is easy and unaffected to a phrase that is grammatical.

I would never use a long word, even, where a short one would answer the purpose.

Uncommon things must be said in common words, if you would have them to be received in less than a century.

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out always cut it out. Never use the passive voice where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.