March 26th, 2009
[Clutter] is the language of the airline stewardess demonstrating the oxygen mask that will drop down if the plane should somehow run out of air. “In the extremely unlikely possibility that the aircraft should experience such an eventuality,” she begins—a phrase so oxygen-depriving in itself that we are prepared for any disaster, and even gasping death shall lose its sting. As for her request to “kindly extinguish all smoking materials,” I often wonder what materials are smoking. Maybe she thinks my coat and tie are on fire.
William Zinsser, from “Clutter” in On Writing Well.
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I am John T. Hoffoss. All opinions are my own. If you don't like them, let's disagree.