“Authors Have a Responsibility to Communicate Clearly” by TurnTrout

When a claim is shown to be incorrect, defenders may say that the author was just being “sloppy” and actually meant something else entirely. I argue that this move is not harmless, charitable, or healthy. At best, this attempt at charity reduces an author's incentive to express themselves clearly – they can clarify later![1] – while burdening the reader with finding the “right” interpretation of the author's words. At worst, this move is a dishonest defensive tactic which shields the author with the unfalsifiable question of what the author “really” meant. ⚠️ Preemptive clarification The context for this essay is serious, high-stakes communication: papers, technical blog posts, and tweet threads. In that context, communication is a partnership. A reader has a responsibility to engage in good faith, and an author cannot possibly defend against all misinterpretations. Misunderstanding is a natural part of this process. This essay focuses not on [...] ---Outline:(01:40) A case study of the sloppy language move(03:12) Why the sloppiness move is harmful(03:36) 1. Unclear claims damage understanding(05:07) 2. Secret indirection erodes the meaning of language(05:24) 3. Authors owe readers clarity(07:30) But which interpretations are plausible?(08:38) 4. The move can shield dishonesty(09:06) Conclusion: Defending intellectual standardsThe original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: July 1st, 2025 Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ZmfxgvtJgcfNCeHwN/authors-have-a-responsibility-to-communicate-clearly --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.