Err on the side of verbs. If you have to choose between expressing something via the verb or in some other way, choose the verb. - Paul Graham

It is occasionally useful to operate at the level of words rather than ideas — to literally not know what you're talking about — so long as you land back in ideas at the end of the trip.

I suppose designating "sectors of focus" for your VC firm could be harmless, so long as it's only something you tell LPs and not something you start to believe yourself.

When writing, don't mention people who've criticized you. It doesn't age well. If you're right, no one will have heard of them in the future, and the reference to them will be a distraction. And if you're wrong no one will read your writing in the future, so it won't matter.