Roy Peter Clark Quotes

“A teacher of mine once said there are no true synonyms.”
― Roy Peter Clark, The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English

“Whether the vessel is a legal document or a rap song, language is often chosen ot exclude. To use a scholarly phrase, "discourse communities" are often gated,so it's the good writer's job to offer readers a set of keys.”
― Roy Peter Clark

“Imagination without skill makes a lively chaos. Skill without imagination a deadly order.”
― Roy Peter Clark , Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser

“Books have a way of finding you when you need them.”
― Roy Peter Clark, Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser

“1. If you think of something clever by all means write it down.
2. Ask yourself, “Am I including this because it provides the reader with a memorable and delightful piece of evidence to prove the point of my text, or is it beside the point even though it reveals what a good wordsmith I am?”
3. If you decide to murder that passage, remember that you have another choice, you can save it in a file or journal. It may work well in a different context.
4. You may not be able to make these judgements on your own. Trust an editor or a writing friend to help.”
― Roy Peter Clark, Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser