Comments on: 250 words is the soul of wit

By: The Second Wiehl « Cyberquill | Blog

The Second Wiehl « Cyberquill | Blog — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:50:19 +0000

[...] am also aware that 250 Words is the Soul of Wit. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I [...]

By: Richard Manchester

Richard Manchester — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:32:23 +0000

A piece of writing, or indeed computer progamming, which comes right first time is often just right in all other ways as well without effort. Something which requires licking into shape frequently fails to yield at all.

By: The changing face of Abu M (and KoW) « Kings of War

The changing face of Abu M (and KoW) « Kings of War — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:43:38 +0000

[...] blogging is its own medium – the language tends to be more informal, posts often short – those over 700 words tend to be less widely read. And blogging takes a surprising amount of [...]

By: Richard Manchester

Richard Manchester — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:22:35 +0000

That’s because you’ve used an abnormal curve, Mr Crotchety.
The original hypothesis is therefore disproved, whatever that was.
My confidence is restored, despite Cheri’s further attack.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:05:50 +0000

Impressively diligent research. I stand corrected.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:04:06 +0000

This “Tofu” thing in the article sound very intriguing. Too bad they didn’t provide a screen shot.

Actually, I totally agree that our present vertical scrolling is so unnatural that it will soon go extinct. We have, in the internet era, gone back to the days of scrolls. Not “as I read on page 213″ but “as I read nine-fifteenths or so of the way done on my scrollbar”. Nuts.

Horizontal might work better.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:54:57 +0000

Well, the truth is probably that ANY length is fine as long as it does not tire the reader but captivates him and propels him forward.

The rule, maybe, should be that the MINIMUM word count is ideal, but that number will fluctuate.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:53:16 +0000

This relates because the word “wit” was in the title and you’ve supplied it.

Incidentally, there is no need on the Hannibal Blog to stay on point. Free-associate away. You’ll know if it makes sense from the reactions of the others….

By: Cheri

Cheri — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:05:05 +0000

Gee, tanks.

Andreas, I like your longer blog posts.

I do look at word count when I write for my blog. Most are about 450 words. That’s perfect, isn’t it?

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:41:34 +0000

I’ve just checked the four most recent blogs on the Economist’s web-site.

The word counts were: 449, 843, 82, and 658. This averages out at 508 words per entry.

So, we who blog should aim at 508 words per entry if we wish to be read.

The Economist can’t be wrong.

By: Mr. Crotchety

Mr. Crotchety — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:33:52 +0000

Good comeback, Ms. Sabraw.

I’d check the word counting from Microsoft. I’ve seen Microsoft Excel calculate standard deviations incorrectly, too.

(I probably won’t get paid for that product placement).

By: Cheri

Cheri — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:31:59 +0000

Oh Fooey!

By: Jag

Jag — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:31:25 +0000

Hi Andreas – have been overindulging in thought fragments on twitter, of late…

a) Obvious but possibly still worth saying – many (probably the majority) of blog posts are quickly written and just not well written (present web address excepted of course) which reduces the desire to go the distance. Quality thinking and writing are needed to sustain interest, and both take time… which is rarely expended in the blogosphere

b) Length preference for a give outlet might also be to do with “textual orientation” and way we read various types of writing. A friend (and excellent long form writer) Trevor Corson wrote an interesting piece on Christian Science Monitor on the effects of horizontal vs vertical scrolling when reading on screens. As a Kindle user – wonder if you have any thoughts on the subject.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20091110/cm_csm/ycorson

By: Richard Manchester

Richard Manchester — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:38:01 +0000

251, according to Word. I don’t know how it treats 250, 600, 800, ie, 110,000 and 1008
but there, you were always far above average.

This must be very important, after all, Mr Mullenweg thinks so.

I’d love to know what an unstable average is: insanely mediocre? That would make a stable average sanely exceptional – a contradiction.

Cheri tells me my comments do not relate to her posts. I hope this relates.

By: solidgoldcreativity

solidgoldcreativity — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:59:39 +0000

Arghhh, don’t change. Your longer posts are the ones I like best. I think a mix of short and long is good.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:13:32 +0000

I know. The archetypal corny parental-advice cliche. Hurts my point.

By: Mr. Crotchety

Mr. Crotchety — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:10:50 +0000

He also said, ‘to thine own self be true.’

What does Polonius know about wit? (Maybe before he became a father.)