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About this quote

What does it mean?
Reading from left to right is the standard method and is recommended for consistency.
In plain terms
Read left to right as usual.
What can you take from it?
Follow standard reading order for clarity.

Where it applies

  • learning to read
  • editing text

Putting it to work

  • teach standard reading order

Questions to consider

  • Why do we read left to right?
  • Are there exceptions to this rule?

Another view

It ignores cultures or contexts where reading direction differs.

More from James Thurber

  1. The laughter of man is more terrible than his tears, and takes more forms - hollow, heartless, mirthless, maniacal.

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  2. When all things are equal, translucence in writing is more effective than transparency, just as glow is more revealing than glare.

    Permalink to quote #49
  3. With 60 staring me in the face, I have developed inflammation of the sentence structure and a definite hardening of the paragraphs.

    Permalink to quote #46

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