--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't even use italics or boldface…" description: "\"I don't even use italics or boldface; that's clutter, not clarity. Fancy fonts are fine for blogs, just as calligraphy is fine for diaries. But when yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/andrew-vachss-8127_anyone_i-don-t-even-use-italics-or-boldface-tha_624105.jpg" --- # I don't even use italics or boldface; that's clutter, not… ![“I don't even use italics or boldface; that's clutter, not clarity. Fancy fonts are fine for blogs, just as calligraphy is fine for diaries. But when you're writing for anyone other than yourself, you want to get as universal as possible.” quote by Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/andrew-vachss-8127_anyone_i-don-t-even-use-italics-or-boldface-tha_624105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/andrew-vachss-8127_anyone_i-don-t-even-use-italics-or-boldface-tha_624105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/andrew-vachss-8127_anyone_i-don-t-even-use-italics-or-boldface-tha_624105.jpg) > “I don't even use italics or boldface; that's clutter, not clarity. Fancy fonts are fine for blogs, just as calligraphy is fine for diaries. But when you're writing for anyone other than yourself, you want to get as universal as possible.” [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cluttered formatting distracts readers; plain text enhances clarity and universality across audiences. **In simple terms:** Simple text is clearer than fancy formatting. Key Takeaway Prefer plain formatting for broad readability. Themes clarity readability design communication Mood practical neutral Type advice instructional When to use this quote - blog posts - technical documentation - academic papers - email newsletters Key Concepts minimalism visual hierarchy user experience Questions to Reflect On - How does formatting affect your message's impact? - When is decorative text appropriate? A Different Perspective Overly minimalism can seem bland or unengaging to some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blogs/) [Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity/) [Clutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) [Diaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaries/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“When I am a writer, I shall do parenthetical asides. And footnotes. There will be footnotes. I wonder how you do them? And italics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-i-am-a-writer-i-shall-do-parenthetical-asides-and-footnotes/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“You might say she feels in italics and thinks in capital letters!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-weber/you-might-say-she-feels-in-italics-and-thinks-in-capital-letters/) [Katharine Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-weber/) > [Like italics and hyphens, quotation marks are to be used as sparingly as possible. They should light the way, not darken it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/like-italics-and-hyphens-quotation-marks-are-to-be-used-as-sparingly/) [Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) > [a few italics really do relieve your feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/a-few-italics-really-do-relieve-your-feelings/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [Rilla was fond of italics, as most girls of fifteen are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rilla-was-fond-of-italics-as-most-girls-of-fifteen-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I adore italics, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-firbank/i-adore-italics-don-t-you/) [Ronald Firbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-firbank/) > [She feels in italics and thinks in CAPITALS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/she-feels-in-italics-and-thinks-in-capitals/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [You can't have many exclamation points left,' thought Anne, 'but no doubt the supply of italics is inexhaustible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-have-many-exclamation-points-left-thought-anne-but-no-doubt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ "What?" The italics just flew out past the alcohol's guard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cantero/what-the-italics-just-flew-out-past-the-alcohol-s-guard/) [Edgar Cantero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cantero/) > [“When the Jews wanted to make something emphatic, instead of adding an exclamation point or using italics, they would simply repeat it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/when-the-jews-wanted-to-make-something-emphatic-instead-of-adding-an/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [Italics provide a wonderful advantage: you see, right away, that the words are in a rush. When something exists at a slant, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/italics-provide-a-wonderful-advantage-you-see-right-away-that-the/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [“Fate's book, but my italics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-paterson/fate-s-book-but-my-italics/) [Don Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-paterson/) > [“Italics are like a rash -- you never know whether to ignore them entirely or whether the more you attention you give the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-whether-to-ignore-them/) [Zanesh Catkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/) > [I hate clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-barrie/i-hate-clutter/) [Barbara Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-barrie/) > [It's always something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/it-s-always-something/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) ## More by Andrew Vachss > [Max Allan Collins blends fact and fiction like no other writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/max-allan-collins-blends-fact-and-fiction-like-no-other-writer/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [People are pushing against the fabric of society all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/people-are-pushing-against-the-fabric-of-society-all-the-time/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [“He had the radio turned to some Spanish-language station at a volume that reminded me of the holding tank at Riker's Island - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/he-had-the-radio-turned-to-some-spanish-language-station-at-a-volume/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Stealing to eat ain’t criminal—stealing to be rich is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/stealing-to-eat-ain-t-criminal-stealing-to-be-rich-is/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [I believe my publisher has shown a great deal of faith in me over a lot of years but I'm not prepared to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/i-believe-my-publisher-has-shown-a-great-deal-of-faith-in-me-over-a/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [When you hunt predators, the best camouflage is weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/when-you-hunt-predators-the-best-camouflage-is-weakness/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [The idea that you're not a writer until you're published is a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/the-idea-that-you-re-not-a-writer-until-you-re-published-is-a-lie/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [A free press doesn't mean it's not a tame press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/a-free-press-doesn-t-mean-it-s-not-a-tame-press/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [“the ferret, hunting, eyes on the ground, never hears footsteps of the hawk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/the-ferret-hunting-eyes-on-the-ground-never-hears-footsteps-of-the/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [My stuff isn't for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/my-stuff-isn-t-for-everyone/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [He said when the Lord made people He made them all the same for starters. 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That's why my hero, admittedly a flawed one, is a journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/journalism-is-the-protection-between-people-and-any-sort-of/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Victimizers of children are the enemies of any so-called society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/victimizers-of-children-are-the-enemies-of-any-so-called-society/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Ask any experienced defense lawyer: the real risks are for an accused person who is innocent. A guilty defendant has many more options available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/ask-any-experienced-defense-lawyer-the-real-risks-are-for-an-accused/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) [Explore all 84 Andrew Vachss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) ## More Anyone quotes > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. 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Then when you discover that you actually need people who want to do the right thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-schwartz/when-you-rely-on-incentives-you-undermine-virtues-then-when-you/) [Barry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-schwartz/) > [We cannot stop anyone from criticising us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/we-cannot-stop-anyone-from-criticising-us/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Don't compare your career to anyone else's. It's tough when you're in a business that's competitive. I was having a difficult time with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/don-t-compare-your-career-to-anyone-else-s-it-s-tough-when-you-re-in/) [Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/) > [The Syrians are better suited to sort out their internal divisions than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/the-syrians-are-better-suited-to-sort-out-their-internal-divisions/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [I haven't talked to any young artists for a long time. But if we did sit down, I'd definitely tell them my viewpoint. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-haven-t-talked-to-any-young-artists-for-a-long-time-but-if-we-did/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [Don't take anyone for granted, just because they texts you first doesn't mean they're going to chase you around and be your last choice..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-take-anyone-for-granted-just-because-they-texts-you-first-doesn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm talking to anyone who has been dumped - have not gotten the job you really wanted or have received those horrible rejection letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/i-m-talking-to-anyone-who-has-been-dumped-have-not-gotten-the-job-you/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [The theme of the party was Neverland Ranch, so guests were asked to come as anyone or anything associated with Michael Jackson. 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