Keith Devens .com

Don't "feel"... think!

I've asked this before, but it seems not enough people listened to me

Next time you find yourself writing "I feel that...", step back for a minute and think about whether you'd argue for the point you're about to make. Because if it's an intellectual position you want to argue for, make it based on reasoning, not sentiment.

On the other hand, if you really are conveying your emotions about something, or simply describing a gut feeling you have about something, be my guest and go right ahead and use the word "feel". There, it's appropriate. But if you're presenting something you think has any objective information content to it, please use the word "think". We'll all be better off.

Note: What spurred me to make this plea just now was the first comment on this post. Ironically, the commenter's name was Aristotle! Also, did you know that imploration is a word?

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02:32 (utc-4)
edited: 02:35 (utc-4)