Composing Quote by Sydney Smith
“In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigor it will give your style.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Letters on the Study of the English Language, 1828
Editing by removing every other word can inject unexpected vigor into your writing style.
In simple terms: Cutting words can energize prose.
Key Takeaway
Edit for impact, not length.
Themes
writing
editing
creativity
Mood
reflective
instructive
Type
advice
literary
When to use this quote
- draft revisions
- creative writing workshops
- blog posts
Key Concepts
conciseness
rhythm
surprise
Questions to Reflect On
- Which words are essential for clarity?
- How does rhythm affect reader engagement?
A Different Perspective
Over‑editing may strip essential meaning.
![“[T]he 47th proposition in Euclid might now be voted down with as much ease as any proposition in politics; and therefore if Lord Hawkesbury hates the abstract truths of science as much as he hates concrete truth in human affairs, now is his time for getting rid of the multiplication table, and…” quote by Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/709/sydney-smith-6523_abstract_t-he-47th-proposition-in-euclid-might-no_463551.jpg)
