Hemingway (NOT the same as suggested previously)

[modayode]

Hi, so I searched the Wish List forum for this and found results for a “Hemingway mode” that was not what I’m talking about … so if someone has suggested this and I missed it, apologies.

There’s a web app “Hemingway” (hemingwayapp.com/) where you enter text and the app highlights in various colors the weaker points of your text. Adverbs are highlighted in blue, uses of passive voice highlighted in green, overly complex sentences in yellow (mildly hard to read) or red (very hard to read) and so on.

I’d love to see that integrated into Scrivener as an optional mode where you toggle it on and it highlights those elements in whichever project is currently open.

[nom]

The Hemingway app looks fun (and there’s a desktop version too!). And yet, after reading the explanations (and examples) on the site, I think I would hate reading something that rigidly adhered to it’s rules. I like long meandering sentences (with or without splitting logic)—anyone that’s read my posts here would know that—which is partly why I like Douglas Adams, and Dickens. I also like short sentences. However, using only short words is boring. Banal. Sometimes it’s good to have some polysyllabic verbal gymnastics to extend our vocabulary and stretch our imaginations.

Out of curiosity, I pasted the opening paragraphs of Tale of Two Cities. Almost the entire text was highlighted, although the app apparently did like the sentence, “It was the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five”. The rating was “bad” with a reading level of 21. So I tried an easier Dickens and pasted the opening paragraphs to Oliver Twist. Everything was highlighted; rating was “bad”, with a reading level of “Grade 47”. Grade 47? Who studies for 47 years?? I read Oliver Twist in primary school!

Thinking maybe the app has an issue with 19th century authors I switched to Douglas Adams and pasted the opening paragraphs of his little known work, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. All text highlighted, rated “bad” and requiring an education to “Grade 18” in oder to understand the text.

Postscript: this post gets a rating of “Good” only requiring an education to “Grade 9” standard. Oh, the cruelty!
Maybe I’ll buy the desktop version…

[Jaysen]

1. I will never pass any “writing test” as noted by every teacher … ever.
2. When did requiring a basic education for comprehending a work become “bad”?
3. This seems to me another indicator of “formula” writing. If Dickens, Twain, Millville, Adams followed a formula, what formula would we have to follow?

That said, my new favorite “nom-ism” is now

@nom

I switched to Douglas Adams and pasted the opening paragraphs of his little known work, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

As to needing an education to ready that book… Good. Makes me feel better.

[nom]

@Jaysen

1. I will never pass any “writing test” as noted by every teacher … ever.
2. When did requiring a basic education for comprehending a work become “bad”?
3. This seems to me another indicator of “formula” writing. If Dickens, Twain, Millville, Adams followed a formula, what formula would we have to follow?

That said, my new favorite “nom-ism” is now

@nom

I switched to Douglas Adams and pasted the opening paragraphs of his little known work, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

As to needing an education to ready that book… Good. Makes me feel better.

See? You’re educated to “Grade 18”. I’ll send you a certificate…

[Jaysen]

@nom

See? You’re educated to “Grade 18”. I’ll send you a certificate…

Oh no! I demand the Oliver Twist ranking. I’ve read that. I love it. I understand it even though I’m a confirmed idiot.

[Hugh]

@nom

I like long meandering sentences (with or without splitting logic)—anyone that’s read my posts here would know that—which is partly why I like Douglas Adams, and Dickens. I also like short sentences. However, using only short words is boring. Banal. Sometimes it’s good to have some polysyllabic verbal gymnastics to extend our vocabulary and stretch our imaginations.

I last taught English Language nearly fifty years ago. But if I still taught it, I’d steal those sentences and use them.

[Jaysen]

@Hugh

@nom

I like long meandering sentences (with or without splitting logic)—anyone that’s read my posts here would know that—which is partly why I like Douglas Adams, and Dickens. I also like short sentences. However, using only short words is boring. Banal. Sometimes it’s good to have some polysyllabic verbal gymnastics to extend our vocabulary and stretch our imaginations.

I last taught English Language nearly fifty years ago. But if I still taught it, I’d steal those sentences and use them.

How? As a “don’t ever do this” or as a “see, some people are crazy” or as a “express yourself freely and I’ll attempt to be reasonable”?

[nom]

@Jaysen

@Hugh

@nom

I like long meandering sentences (with or without splitting logic)—anyone that’s read my posts here would know that—which is partly why I like Douglas Adams, and Dickens. I also like short sentences. However, using only short words is boring. Banal. Sometimes it’s good to have some polysyllabic verbal gymnastics to extend our vocabulary and stretch our imaginations.

I last taught English Language nearly fifty years ago. But if I still taught it, I’d steal those sentences and use them.

How? As a “don’t ever do this” or as a “see, some people are crazy” or as a “express yourself freely and I’ll attempt to be reasonable”?

What about as “more evidence of the wisdom of nom the elder”?

Or, more simply, “Words are fun. Let’s play!”