The modern formatting addiction in writing
11 hours ago
- The author contrasts two writing styles: Exhibit A (heavily formatted with bullet points and sections) and Exhibit B (traditional paragraphs).
- Excessive formatting is disorienting and violates the principle of making something you would actually enjoy reading.
- Both humans and AI models exhibit a similar addiction to formatting, even when it hinders clarity.
- Formatting may be useful for skimming and SEO content, but it is excruciating for long-form essays.
- Formatting aids in thinking and structure during the writing process but often remains unrefined.
- Formatting can bluff coherence, concealing a lack of synthesis and preventing deeper narrative development.
- Writing in paragraphs forces confronting contradictions and improves clarity; the author recommends starting with formatting then transitioning to paragraphs.