LA WEB DE READING COMPREHENSION PREFERIDA POR LOS HISPANOHABLANTES

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LORD CHESTERFIELD

Orly Borges Personal Collection

Influenced by his own neglect as a child, Lord Chesterfield began to write the letters to his son Philip when the boy was only five years old. These letters were private and were never meant to be read publicly. However, Lord Chesterfield's advice remains fascinating, and much of what he related in them still holds true today.

 

On How To Write A Letter (Letters to my son, 1789)

My dear boy,

When you read my letters, I hope you pay attention as well to the spelling as you do to the histories. You must likewise take notice of the manner in which they are written: which ought to be easy and natural, not strained and florid. For instance, when you are about to sending a love letter, to Miss Pinkerton, you must only think of what you would say to her if you were both together, and then write it; that renders  the style easy and natural; though some people imagine the working of a letter to be a great undertaking, and think they must write abundantly better than they talk, which is not at all necessary.

Most persons who write ill, do so because they aim at writing better than they can, by which means they acquire a formal and unnatural style. For instance, if you want to write a letter to me, you should only consider what you would say if you were with me, and then write it in plain terms, just as if you were conversing.

Affectionately,

Lord Chesterfield

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