---
title: Constrained writing
draft: false
tags:
  - language
  - to-be
  - mastodon
summary: Artificial limitations applied to a language to open up new ways to use it or learn it.
links:
  wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrained_writing
---
## oulipo.social

A fascinating restricted writing [mastodon](/tags/mastodon) instance, where all accounts' posts are filtered automatically (and later moderated) to conform to the restriction — not using the letter E. [oulipo.social](https://oulipo.social)

## E-Prime

Writing English without _any_ of the forms of the verb #to-be. I'm in two minds about this; I love the concept or avoiding accidental definitions—in particular treating oneself as objectively correct "you are tall"—but the [Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Prime#Psychological_effects) calls out some of the criticisms, in particular that _self_ definition of identity is very important!