Be kind Quote by William Zinsser
“Don't hedge your prose with little timidities. Good writing is lean and confident. . . . Every little qualifier whittles away some fraction of the reader's trust. Readers want a writer who believes in himself and in what he is saying. Don't diminish that belief. Don't be kind of bold. Be bold.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On Writing Well, 1976
Avoid excessive qualifiers; they erode confidence and weaken the reader’s trust in the writer’s authority.
In simple terms: Write confidently without unnecessary hedges.
Key Takeaway
Eliminate timid words to strengthen prose.
Themes
writing
confidence
clarity
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
literary
instructional
When to use this quote
- essay drafting
- marketing copy
- academic papers
- blog posts
Key Concepts
lean prose
authorial voice
Questions to Reflect On
- Which qualifiers are essential for precision?
- How does boldness affect reader engagement?
A Different Perspective
Over‑editing can strip necessary nuance or tone.
