---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My writing tends to become very dense, so…"
description: "\"My writing tends to become very dense, so I have to keep some cushion. Sometimes, words that seem superfluous are actually essential for the overall ef..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/gretchen-rubin-867_actually_my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so_2368839.png"
---

#  My writing tends to become very dense, so I have to keep…

![“My writing tends to become very dense, so I have to keep some cushion. Sometimes, words that seem superfluous are actually essential for the overall effect.” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/gretchen-rubin-867_actually_my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so_2368839.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/gretchen-rubin-867_actually_my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so_2368839.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/gretchen-rubin-867_actually_my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so_2368839.png)

> “My writing tends to become very dense, so I have to keep some cushion. Sometimes, words that seem superfluous are actually essential for the overall effect.”

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

## About This Quote

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

Emphasizes balancing dense prose with necessary space, noting that seemingly extra words can be vital for effect.

**In simple terms:** Dense writing needs purposeful pauses.

Key Takeaway

Use intentional space in writing.

Themes

writing clarity balance

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

instructional literary

When to use this quote

- editing drafts
- public speaking
- teaching
- content creation

Key Concepts

conciseness rhythm effectiveness

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide which words are essential?
- When should you trim versus keep?

A Different Perspective

Too much padding can dilute message.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Cushion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cushion/) [Cushion Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cushion-words-5827315/) [Dense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dense/) [Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effect/) [Essential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essential/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Overall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overall/) [Seem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seem/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Superfluous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superfluous/) [Tends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tends/) [Tends Dense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tends-dense-5827316/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Superfluous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-superfluous-290482/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Tends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-tends-544390/)

## Related quotes

> [Generally, I think most of my writing tends to have some kind of magical element to it. That's the way I can access the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/generally-i-think-most-of-my-writing-tends-to-have-some-kind-of/)

[Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/)

> [I think that a classic style in writing tends to remove the reader one level from the immediacy of the experience. For any normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/i-think-that-a-classic-style-in-writing-tends-to-remove-the-reader/)

[James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/)

> [A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature 2 stop speech when words become superfluous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/a-kiss-is-a-lovely-trick-designed-by-nature-2-stop-speech-when-words/)

[Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/)

> [As you get drawn more and more into other activities, like political activities, very demanding, you have to find different rhythms of writing; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/as-you-get-drawn-more-and-more-into-other-activities-like-political/)

[Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/)

> [Writing tends to cheer me; it always soothes my spirit and blesses me with the gift of an innocent, tender, childlike day. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-mistral/writing-tends-to-cheer-me-it-always-soothes-my-spirit-and-blesses-me/)

[Gabriela Mistral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriela-mistral/)

> [“Q: What's the biggest myth about writing? A: That there's any wildness attached to it. Writing tends to be very deliberate." \[ Colm Tóibín,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/q-what-s-the-biggest-myth-about-writing-a-that-there-s-any-wildness/)

[Colm Tóibín](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/)

> [A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. Ingrid Bergman Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic\_love.htmlFGIbgLEtwtWQ3wj7.99](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bergman/a-kiss-is-a-lovely-trick-designed-by-nature-to-stop-speech-when-words-2/)

[Ingrid Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bergman/)

> [A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-kiss-is-a-lovely-trick-designed-by-nature-to-stop-speech-when-words/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Writing tends to be very deliberate. A novelist could probably run a military campaign with some success. They could certainly run a country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/writing-tends-to-be-very-deliberate-a-novelist-could-probably-run-a/)

[Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/)

> [A kiss is the natures way to stop a conversation, when the words are superfluous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bergman/a-kiss-is-the-natures-way-to-stop-a-conversation-when-the-words-are/)

[Ingrid Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bergman/)

> [English writing tends to fall into two categories - the big, baggy epic novel or the fairly controlled, tidy novel. For a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/english-writing-tends-to-fall-into-two-categories-the-big-baggy-epic/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [Words would be superfluous if we had deeds to show for Them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/words-would-be-superfluous-if-we-had-deeds-to-show-for-them/)

[Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/)

> [I suppose it's useful in designating writing that tends to come from personal experience, work that delineates an "I," but it's a loose lasso,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthea-harvey/i-suppose-it-s-useful-in-designating-writing-that-tends-to-come-from/)

[Matthea Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthea-harvey/)

> [A kiss is a course of procedure cunningly devised, for the mutual stopage of speech at a moment when words are superfluous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/a-kiss-is-a-course-of-procedure-cunningly-devised-for-the-mutual/)

[Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/)

> [A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. By rN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul/a-kiss-is-a-lovely-trick-designed-by-nature-to-stop-speech-when-words-3/)

[Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul/)

## More by Gretchen Rubin

> [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/knowing-what-you-admire-in-others-is-a-wonderful-mirror-into-your/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/being-taken-for-granted-is-an-unpleasant-but-sincere-form-of-praise/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [One of the findings that really interests me is that, although we think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, we often FEEL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-the-findings-that-really-interests-me-is-that-although-we/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [We all want to get along well with other people, and one way to do this is to help people feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/we-all-want-to-get-along-well-with-other-people-and-one-way-to-do/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [During my study of happiness, I noticed something that surprised me: I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/during-my-study-of-happiness-i-noticed-something-that-surprised-me-i/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [There is a preppy wabi-sabi to soft, faded khakis and cotton shirts, but it's not nice to be surrounded by things that are worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-is-a-preppy-wabi-sabi-to-soft-faded-khakis-and-cotton-shirts/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [“There are times in the lives of most of us,” observed William Edward Hartpole Lecky, “when we would have given all the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-are-times-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-observed-william-edward/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [“I started thinking more about music. I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-started-thinking-more-about-music-i-thought-i-d-accepted-the-fact/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-pleasure-of-doing-the-same-thing-in-the-same-way-every-day/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/although-we-often-assume-that-feelings-inspire-actions-in-fact/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [I love finding - or inventing - ways to categorize people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-love-finding-or-inventing-ways-to-categorize-people/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/after-someone-s-death-how-strange-to-see-the-value-drain-away-from/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

[Explore all 346 Gretchen Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

## More Actually quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/)

[Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/)

> [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/)

[David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/)

> [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/)

[Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/)

> [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/)

[L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/)

> [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/)

[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/)

> [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/)

[Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/)

> [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/)

[Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/)

> [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/)

[Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/)

> [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/)

[Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/)

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

[Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My writing tends to become very dense, so I have to keep some cushion. Sometimes, words that seem superfluous are actually essential for the overall effect.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gretchen Rubin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so-i-have-to-keep-some-cushion/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actually"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so-i-have-to-keep-some-cushion/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/gretchen-rubin-867_actually_my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so_2368839.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/gretchen-rubin-867_actually_my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so_2368839.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/gretchen-rubin-867_actually_my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so_2368839.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My writing tends to become very dense, so I have to keep some cushion. Sometimes, words that seem…” — Gretchen Rubin",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Gretchen Rubin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My writing tends to become very...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so-i-have-to-keep-some-cushion/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/my-writing-tends-to-become-very-dense-so-i-have-to-keep-some-cushion/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
