Sketchplanations
Big Ideas Little Pictures

Sketchplanations in a book! I think you'll love Big Ideas Little Pictures

Sketchplanations podcast photo of Rob Bell, Tom Pellereau and Jono Hey

Prefer to listen?
Try the podcast

Like Sketchplanations?
Support me on Patreon

Explaining the world one sketch at a time

Sketchplanations makes complex ideas simple with clear, insightful sketches. Explore topics from science, creativity, psychology, and beyond explained in pictures.

New sketches by email

Learn something new in a sketch each Sunday

Recent sketches

The best writing is re-writing

The best writing is re-writing. I learned this from On Writing Well by William Zinsser. It has two pages worth the price of the book alone. They show the same pages that made it into the book with editing marks all over them. At a glance, it made me understand the work and craft that goes into writing and that I can do it. As Paul Graham wrote: "The easy, conversational tone of good writing comes only on the eighth rewrite." It also helps me realise that the way to good is by starting with something that isn't good. Also on editing: The first draft is always perfect Micro-editing redundant words Short words Happy talk must die How to speak plainly By monkeys Short speeches…
Read more…
When to use Affect vs effect: one person affects another by pushing them into the water. The effect is a big splash.

Affect. Effect

When should use affect or effect in English? Affect is a verb — you affect someone or something. Effect is a noun. In this sketch, the person is affected (verb) by being pushed into the water with the effect (noun) being a large splash. Also see: less vs fewer…
Read more…
Sketchplanations
Search·Categories·Archive·List
Buy Me A Coffee