A SLIGHT EMBARRASSMENT

I mentioned yesterday that I make an effort always to write simply. But in my posts of just the day before I described Dick McDonald's writing as "trenchant" -- a word not in common use. Dick had to look it up to see what I was saying about him -- though he was very pleased when he found out.

I have always made an effort to express myself as simply as possible even in my academic writing. I have always said that unclear writing is a sign of unclear thinking. But there are some examples here which suggest that obscure writing can be even more discreditable than that. Sometimes it covers up the fact that the author -- typically a Leftist academic -- has nothing to contribute at all.

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