--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell my students that when you write…" description: "\"I tell my students that when you write, you should pretend you’re writing the best letter you ever wrote to the smartest friend you have. That way, you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jeffrey-eugenides-462_assuming_i-tell-my-students-that-when-you-write-y_1847913.png" --- # I tell my students that when you write, you should pretend… ![“I tell my students that when you write, you should pretend you’re writing the best letter you ever wrote to the smartest friend you have. That way, you’ll never dumb things down. You won’t have to explain things that don’t need explaining. You’ll assume an intimacy and a natural shorthand, which…” quote by Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jeffrey-eugenides-462_assuming_i-tell-my-students-that-when-you-write-y_1847913.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jeffrey-eugenides-462_assuming_i-tell-my-students-that-when-you-write-y_1847913.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jeffrey-eugenides-462_assuming_i-tell-my-students-that-when-you-write-y_1847913.png) > “I tell my students that when you write, you should pretend you’re writing the best letter you ever wrote to the smartest friend you have. That way, you’ll never dumb things down. You won’t have to explain things that don’t need explaining. You’ll assume an intimacy and a natural shorthand, which is good because readers are smart and don’t wish to be condescended to.” [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing as if to a brilliant friend encourages authenticity and avoids condescension, fostering clear, intimate communication. **In simple terms:** Write like you’re speaking to a smart friend. Key Takeaway Treat readers as equals. Themes writing communication authenticity Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice pedagogical When to use this quote - teaching writing - crafting essays - author‑reader dialogue Key Concepts intimacy shorthand reader respect Questions to Reflect On - How does assuming intelligence change your tone? - When might you need more explicit explanation? A Different Perspective May still need to clarify complex ideas for diverse audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Best Letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-letter-1882038/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-things/) [Explaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explaining/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Pretend Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-writing-2403109/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Shorthand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shorthand/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-write-334697/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-best-399463/) [Wrote Smartest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-smartest-2403110/) ## Related quotes > [“I tell my students that when you write, you should pretend you’re writing the best letter you ever wrote to the smartest friend you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-tell-my-students-that-when-you-write-you-should-pretend-you-re-2/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [the best 4 letter word in the world is Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/the-best-4-letter-word-in-the-world-is-hope/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [A good face is the best letter of recommendation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/a-good-face-is-the-best-letter-of-recommendation/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [I try to tell student writers to read as much as possible, not only literature but philosophy, theory, and to form obsessions. 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They could sit back and let normality manifest itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/normality-wasn-t-normal-it-couldn-t-be-if-normality-were-normal/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) [Explore all 516 Jeffrey Eugenides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. 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