Writing style: Words from the wise
Writing advice from the ancient Greeks stands the test of time, as author and lecturer James McCreet explains
The Greek thinkers tended to design holistic philosophies. Their systems demanded naturally interconnected ideas on physics, ethics and logic so that every aspect of their lives could be practically consistent. Good writing was no different.
Indeed, the Stoic philosophers drew up five categories of excellence by which to judge quality of expression. It was no use having fine thoughts if they risked being mangled by barbaric language. Today, their ideas still seem as eminently sensible as they were 25 centuries past. It’s worth looking at them in some detail for lessons that have certainly stood the test of time.
Correctness of expression
Good language, said the Stoics, was primarily faultless grammar and absence of careless vulgarity.
By stressing this, they wanted to be clear that the rules of writing come before all else. It’s futile to embark on any linguistic endeavour without a grounding in the basics.
This might seem quite obvious, and yet the evidence shows repeatedly that too many writers put their desire to write above their desire to get it right. If the grammar is woolly (eg supernumerary or tangled clauses) and if the punctuation is improvised (eg commas used as full stops) the subject being expressed is compromised. Grammar and punctuation should actually be invisible to the reader. Only their effect should be felt.