Typical example of college writing I see

[Orrex]

135. Hands down, the writing problem I have seen most over the decades...

Last edited Fri May 9, 2025, 06:58 AM - Edit history (1)

is that people simply aren't conscious of what they're writing or what it's saying. This is true of formal writing students, of fan fic authors, and certainly of dear old Orrex himself.

Too often people write the thing and then move on to the next thing, which can be fine in brief formats and is definitely fine in casual discourse, but in explanatory or technical writing, and in prose fiction & non-fiction, consciousness of one's text makes all the difference between conveying a coherent thought/instruction/narrative and helping your uncle jack off a horse.

But you're correct: "good" writing skills (especially long-form) aren't necessary to graduate from high school and are seldom needed in the world beyond. But knowing how to express oneself with clarity is a skill worth honing.