I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English — it is the modern way and the best w… - Mark Twain

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I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English — it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them — then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice.

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About Mark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known as Mark Twain, was an American humorist, novelist, writer, and lecturer.

Biography information from Wikiquote

Also Known As

Birth Name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens
Alternative Names: Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass Samuel L. Clemens Samuel Clemens Quintus Curtius Snodgrass
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Shorter versions of this quote

When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them — then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are far apart.

Additional quotes by Mark Twain

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.

I can last two months on a good compliment.

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