Other related topics at: Literary Topics 505. Style; Writing "The task of an author is, either to teach what is not known, or to recommend known truths by his manner of adorning them; either to let new light in upon the mind, and open new scenes to the prospect, or to vary the dress and situation of common objects, so as to give them fresh grace and more powerful attractions, to spread such flowers over the regions through which the intellect has already made its progress, as may tempt it to return, and take a second view of things hastily passed over, or negligently regarded." Johnson: Rambler #3 (March 27, 1750) Link 561. Style; Writing "It is much easier not to write like a man than to write like a woman." Johnson: Rambler #20 (May 26, 1750) Link 759. Style; Writing "He who writes much will not easily escape a manner, such a recurrence of particular modes as may be easily noted." Johnson: Dryden (Lives of the Poets) Link 760. Style; Writing "Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet. From those sounds which we hear on small or on coarse occasions, we do not easily receive strong impressions, or delightful images; and words to which we are nearly strangers, whenever they occur, draw that attention on themselves which they should transmit to other things." Johnson: Dryden (Lives of the Poets) Link 825. Style; Writing "It is indeed not easy to distinguish affectation from habit; he that has once studiously developed a style, rarely writes afterwards with complete ease." Johnson: Pope (Lives of the Poets) Link 986. Reading; Style; Writing "Too much nicety of detail disgusts the greatest part of readers, and to throw a multitude of particulars under general heads, and lay down rules of extensive comprehension, is to common understandings of little use." Johnson: Rambler #90 (January 26, 1751) Link 1,677. Communication; Style; Writing "Every man speaks and writes with intent to be understood; and it can seldom happen but he that understands himself, might convey his notions to another, if, content to be understood, he did not seek to be admired; but when once he begins to contrive how his sentiments may be received, not with most ease to his reader, but with most advantage to himself, he then transfers his consideration from words to sounds, from sentences to periods, and, as he grows more elegant, becomes less intelligible." Johnson: Idler #36 (December 23, 1758) Link