Tone and rhythm are to writing what body language is to speaking....
Pep@peptalksblog
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Sep 23, 2025
~1 min read
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Tone and rhythm are to writing what body language is to speaking.
They often communicate more than the literal meaning.
Including things the communicator is unaware of—or thinks they’re concealing.
They often communicate more than the literal meaning.
Including things the communicator is unaware of—or thinks they’re concealing.
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Style is to writing what fashion is to speaking.
It may not change what our words mean.
But it’s a social language underneath that can influence how (and by whom) they are received.
It may not change what our words mean.
But it’s a social language underneath that can influence how (and by whom) they are received.
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Body language is hard to fake because our micro-expressions reveal our real stance & feelings.
In writing, tone is full of micro-expressions too.
A little hidden word can reveal the harsh energy underneath a post about inner peace.
In writing, tone is full of micro-expressions too.
A little hidden word can reveal the harsh energy underneath a post about inner peace.
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Just like fashion, writing style can successfully be imitated by someone who knows the workings of it.
Still, since they are social languages, someone who perfectly copies a style but doesn’t understand the social groups it speaks to, might be “unmasked” by a detail.
Still, since they are social languages, someone who perfectly copies a style but doesn’t understand the social groups it speaks to, might be “unmasked” by a detail.
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Style being a social language, it’s hilarious to think that LLMs, in a sense, are a class among writers?
Like, the way many people feel about the em dash is somewhat similar to how punk reacts to “posers”?
Claude responds (many layers of funny to me):
Like, the way many people feel about the em dash is somewhat similar to how punk reacts to “posers”?
Claude responds (many layers of funny to me):