Those who use long periods of flowered prolixity and pretentious phrases—who write in complicated form with meaningless flourishes, do not make an impression of elegance and erudition upon their readers, but flaunt instead unmistakable evidence of vainglory and ignorance.
Notes and shorter letters. Emily Post. Etiquette. 1922. (via thatwhichmatter)
Indeed. (Said another way: omit needless words.)
I would say much of the specific advice re: addressing particularly women has fallen by the wayside, but the above is still worthy.
(Also: vainglory!)
