Mark Twain famously said: "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." Of course he was absolutely right -- and partially wrong. In speaking, using exactly the right word is crucial. In speaking, it is important, but not crucial. Too much concern about finding the lightning rather than the lightning bug can be seriously detrimental.
Friedrich Schiller (1759 - 1805) was a leading German dramatist, poet, and essayist. His poem "Ode to Joy", which Beethoven set to music, is today the anthem of the 27-nation European Union. Schiller was particularly noted for his keen observations formulated in "pithy prose". These are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle.
Medical research may seem a rather dull, tedious occupation; however, some of the people who engage in it have extraordinary tales to tell. Dr. Wolf Szmuness, who helped develop the first hepatitis B vaccine, is an outstanding example. The story of how he came to New York City from Poland to carry out his life-saving work reads like high fiction.
Someone once said: "There is no dull information, only dull writers." Dull texts and dull presentations on "dull" subjects are not inevitable. The secret of converting dull into dynamic is a fundamental insight into the human psyche known as "Yaffe's Law".
We all live with misconceptions about the world. This is quite normal. No one can be an expert in everything, so we simplify our learning into easy-to-remember snippets. These are often very close to the truth, but never quite there. Generally, our misconceptions are insignificant and do little harm. Some times they are very significant and do a lot of harm.
"Pithy prose" are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle. A few people (e.g. Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde) produced pithy prose, in their hundreds. Others only a handful, but these too are well worth preserving. This article (follow-up to an earlier article) is dedicated to the wit and wisdom of the most prolific source of all: Anonymous.
Expert Author: Philip Yaffe | Category: Languages Americans are notoriously poor at learning to speak other languages. Because it is country as big as a continent with only one dominant language, learning other languages in the United States is a genuine challenge. Unfortunately, language instruction in the U.S. seems oblivious to this obvious fact, rendering an already difficult task virtually impossible. How can this be remedied?
Writing a corporate image brochure is truly a study in futility. Two things are certain about these expensive, glossy booklets: 1) almost all companies of any size feel compelled to produce them; 2) virtually no one ever reads them. But it doesn't have to be this way. Applying the "expository writing attitude" can lead to corporate brochures that people not only read, but actuallyrecommend to friends and colleagues.
Expert Author: Philip Yaffe | Category: Parenting The urge to procreate, i.e. having children, is so strong in all societies that it is difficult to imagine anyone questioning its morality. It is usually the other way around; not having children is considered suspect and even immoral. Where does the truth lie?
Expert Author: Philip Yaffe | Category: Languages As the world becomes increasingly smaller, the need for a common international language that everyone would speak becomes increasingly evident. Several languages de facto already hold the position, notable English, French, Spanish, and Chinese. For political reasons, an official common language would probably have to be an artificial one specifically created to make learning it as easy as possible for all the world's varied populations. What would such a language look like?
Americans have long admired the English, who seem to speak with consummate ease, intelligence and fluency. Why this difference? As an American living abroad, author Philip Yaffe believes he has discovered the secret, and it is physical. "Knowing why the English pronounce their words the way they do can turn a poor or mediocre speaker into a superior one virtually overnight," he asserts.
Robert Frost was one of the 20th centuries best known and best loved American poets. He was also a teacher and lecturer who had a particularly pungent and provocative way of expressing things. His keen observations were often formulated in "pithy prose". These are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle.
Expert Author: Philip Yaffe | Category: Languages French, like many other languages, is fundamentally more complex than English, which creates a severe psychological problem for native English speakers trying to learn it. However, in many respect French has English beat hands down. By rejoicing in French’s simplicities rather than focusing on its complexities, learning the language can be made more rapid and more enjoyable than you might have expected.
Blaise Pascal was a mathematical prodigy, publishing innovations as early as the age of 16. His most important work of philosophy is titled simply "Pensées" (Thoughts). These pithy insights say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle.
Most of us fondly remember a particular pet we had when growing up. Author Philip Yaffe was luckier than most kids. His pet was not only special; it was virtually unbelievable.
Doctors are perhaps the hardest “sell” in the world. Doctors don’t buy medicines, but ideas and information that pharmaceutical companies hope will eventually turn into prescriptions. The doctor and patient sitting together are the true point of sale in medical marketing. Understanding how pharmaceutical companies promote themselves and their products to medical professionals can teach valuable marketing lessons for us all.
Eric Hoffer was a largely self-educated dockworker and migrant farm labourer. In his middle years he turned to writing. "The True Believer", a study of fanaticism and mass movements, has become a classic because of Hoffer's penetrating insights and "pithy prose". These are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle.
Most writing tips are ineffective because they are not obviously linked to one or more of the fundamental principles of the writing craft. Trying to apply a tip without understanding its true purpose can only lead to poor application or misapplication. Here is a tip that is in fact linked to three fundamental principles. It is therefore dramatically effective and could be the single most important writing tip that you will ever read.
Expert Author: Philip Yaffe | Category: Psychology According to the adage, “Travel is broadening”. In other words, when you leave your home and go somewhere else, your mind will expand because of the differences you will see. For me, the most valuable, mind-expanding differences are not the big ones that you might be prepared for by reading and education. They the little things that you would never even consider, so that they take you completely by surprise.
Good grammar is fundamental to good writing, right? Wrong. However, years of experience working with people who use English as a second or third language have demonstrated that focusing too much on grammar can actually be detrimental to good writing. It's a question of priorities.
