On the Importance of Setting Rules

I am facing an important dilemma, one that affects the way I write here on geekeries.

From day one, I set myself a few rules to follow when writing a new post. For instance, I have decided to never, ever use a single contraction. It was not a wise choice since it does not feel right when I read my posts afterwards. But, hey, that was a choice I made and I respect it, for consistency’s sake.

On the other hand, while I was making rules that I now find absurd, there are many that I did not make and that I now find missing.

As an example, how do I refer to an app or a product in a linked entry’s content whose title is, in fact, the app or product’s name? I used to not refer to it literally, and use demonstrative pronouns instead to avoid repetitions. But lately, I have decided to name it nonetheless, and emphasize it with an em element.

Since both ways have pros and cons, both are good then. But I have to make a choice someday.

As you will have understood, reading between the lines as you were, I do not like changing the rules once I have started using them since it messes with consistency. And God knows how much I cherish consistency!

On the other hand though, as we naturally refine our penmanship over the years, I realized that we naturally refine our writing style over the years too. And now I do not think that sticking to strict rules because of my vow toward the sacrosanct Consistency is good. If my style changes, then I should bend and change with it.

Setting rules is important. It is necessary. But, it is also mandatory to know when to digress and break the rules we made.

So, from now on, I’ll write in the way that I feel the more genuine and personal.