On no uncertain terms: conviction in yourself

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When I started out as a translator, if I wasn’t 100% certain about something I would blur the edges. I would use phrasing that made the reader have to read between the lines a bit because I was not sure I had understood things properly. Now that my understanding has increased, I feel I’m better able to express the source content in a more accurate way.

I’ve tried to bring this over to my writing too. Where possible I’ve purposely taken out things that can be left up to interpretation, for example your I thinks and I believes. This greater conviction leads to stronger writing, and better being able to convey your opinions.

Try it. Try stating things as facts and see how much you actually believe. I’ve found quite a few flaws in my thinking this way, and it’s helped me become more convinced when I do actually think I am correct. Not a bad way to go about things.

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MOUNTAINS OF WISDOM

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Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

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Sakata City, Yamagata, Japan 

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