Economical Writing
The book argues that economic growth and prosperity are driven by the ability to persuade others through language and rhetoric. It challenges traditional views of economics as a science focused on efficiency and profit maximization. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of storytelling and narrative in shaping economic outcomes. The author contends that successful economies are those that can effectively communicate their values and goals to others.
By Deirdre McCloskey · First published 2008 · Genre: Non-fiction, Writing Guide, Business Communication · 35 chapters
Contents
- Writing is a Trade
- Writing is Thinking
- Rules can Help, but Bad Rules Hurt
- Be Thou Clear, but Seek Joy, Too
- The Rules are Factual Rather than Logical
- Classical Rhetoric Guides Even the Economical Writer
- Fluency can be Achieved by Grit
- Write Early Rather than Late
- You will Need Tools
- Keep your Spirits up, Forge Ahead
- Speak to an Audience of Human Beings
- Avoid Boilerplate
- Control your Tone
- A Paragraph should have a Point
- Make Tables, Graphs, Displayed Equations, and Labels on Images Readable by Themselves
- Footnotes and other "Scholarly" Tics are Pedantic
- Make your Writing Cohere
- Use your Ear
- Write in Complete Sentences
- Avoid Elegant Variation
- Watch how each Word Connects with Others
- Watch Punctuation
- The Order Around Switch until it Good Sounds
- Read, out Loud
- Use Verbs, Active Ones
- Avoid Words that Bad Writers Love
- Be Concrete
- Be Plain
- Avoid Cheap Typographical Tricks
- Avoid this, that, these, Those
- Above all, Look at your Words
- Use Standard Forms in Letters
- Treat Speaking in Public as a Performance
- Advice for Nonnative English Speakers
- If you didn't Stop Reading, Join the Flow