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I have known writers who paid no damned attention whatever…

“I have known writers who paid no damned attention whatever to the rules of grammar and rhetoric and somehow made the language behave for them.” quote by Red Smith
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“I have known writers who paid no damned attention whatever to the rules of grammar and rhetoric and somehow made the language behave for them.”

Red Smith

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writers can bypass formal rules and still achieve effective expression through intuition and skill.

In simple terms: Rules can be ignored if language works.

Key Takeaway

Trust your instinct in writing.

Themes

creativity language intuition

Mood

reflective confident

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

  • writing workshops
  • self‑editing
  • creative writing
  • journalism

Key Concepts

grammar rhetoric expression

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you rely on intuition or strict rules?
  • How does breaking rules affect readability?
A Different Perspective

May lack clarity for readers unfamiliar with the style.

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