Wikipedia:Principle of Some Astonishment

Principle of Some Astonishment

Concision makes for good writing. Sometimes editors clutter their prose with pedestrian details that the reader likely knows already or would naturally assume. Far from making the page more informative, this wastes the reader's time and brainpower. If it doesn't convey useful information, omit it!

Here are some examples of articles belaboring the painfully obvious:

You mean the game pieces can be stored for later use? I'm astonished!

In the article Pick-up sticks:

At the end of play, points are tallied up and the pieces can be thrown again or stored in a container for another use.

Comment: Of course the points are tallied up at the end of the game. Of course players can either play again or put the game away "in a container". (If the rules said to ignore the score sheet at the end, then called for players to burn the game pieces or use them to commit ritual suicide, THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.)

In the lead of Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft:

Once inside, the pair revealed their true intentions, tied up the guards, and spent over an hour stealing art from the museum's collection, which they loaded into their vehicle.

Comment: The guards probably sensed their visitors' "true intentions" sometime around the time they got tied up, and our readers will make the same inference vicariously. Furthermore, in this modern age most readers will envision art thieves as having a vehicle at the ready. (Had they absconded via public transport, or summoned an Uber, THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.)

In the article Mary Lee Ware:

The rug on the floor of in the Edward Hall Library in the First Parish in Cambridge was "given in memory of Miss Mary Lee Ware, a first cousin of Rev. Edward Hall" who presided as Minister from 1882 to 1893.

Comment: Though exceptions are known, readers not raised in caves will know that rugs are typically deployed on floors.

In the article US Airways Flight 1549:

The weather recorded at 2:51 p.m. was 10 miles visibility with broken clouds at 3,700 feet, wind 8 knots from 290°, temperature -6° C.

Comment: Of course it was recorded, otherwise how would we know it?

Sullenberger asked if they could attempt an emergency landing in New Jersey, mentioning Teterboro Airport ... air traffic controllers quickly contacted Teterboro and gained permission for a landing on Runway 1

Comment: The word quickly is superfluous, because our readers' innate cunning will inform them that controllers generally act with dispatch in such situations. (Had they instead been lackadaisical, THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.)

However, Sullenberger told controllers that "We can't do it," and "We're gonna be in the Hudson," signaling his intention to bring the plane down on the Hudson River because he was too low to glide to any airport.

Comment: The part from "signalling his intention ..." on is probably unnecessary, because our readers aren't mentally defective. They will conclude without being told that when Sullenberger said "We can't do it ... We're gonna be in the Hudson", he's hinting that (a) he's going to land on the Hudson and (b) he's taking this unconventional step because more orthodox landing sites are out of reach. (Had he instead done it because he wanted a bath, THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.)

Immediately after the A320 had been ditched, Sullenberger opened the cockpit door and gave the "evacuate" order.

Comment: The immediately bit seems unnecessary. (Had the captain made a cup of tea before ordering "Evacuate!", THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.)

The first fire chief on scene transmitted a "10-60" to confirm a major emergency.

Comment: If the fire chief, seeing people crowded onto the wings of a sinking airliner, had radioed, "False alarm – no big deal", THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.

In the article University_of_Texas_Tower_Shooting:

He then drove to a hardware store, where he purchased a Universal M1 carbine, two additional ammunition magazines and eight boxes of ammunition, telling the cashier he planned to hunt wild hogs. At a gun shop he purchased four further carbine magazines, six additional boxes of ammunition, and a can of gun cleaning solvent. He then drove to Sears, where he purchased a Sears Model 60 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun before returning home with his purchases.

Comment: If he'd bought all that stuff and then left it at the store, THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.

In the article Charles Whitman:

Whitman was reportedly the youngest person in the world ever to become an Eagle Scout at that time.

Comment: Are people becoming Eagle Scouts elsewhere than "in the world"? Perhaps on Mars?

In the article Saving Private Ryan:

In Washington, D.C, General George Marshall is informed that three of the four Ryan brothers have been killed within the last week, and that their mother is about to be notified of their deaths.

Comment: Well, this would not have been a good time to notify her that she'd won the Pillsbury Bake-Off.

In the article Stone's representation theorem for Boolean algebras:

The theorem was first proved by Marshall H. Stone (1936), and thus named in his honor.

Comment: And here I thought it was proved by Marshall H. Stone but named for some other Stone.

In the article Ted Bundy:

He broke through the ceiling into the apartment of the chief jailer—who was out for the evening with his wife—changed into street clothes from the jailer's closet, and walked out the front door to freedom.

Comment: While it's nice to know a busy chief jailer still has time for his spouse, absent mention of a confrontation the reader's common sense will tell him that Mr. and Mrs. Turnkey weren't home. (Had they helped Bundy pick out a tie to go with his new civvies, or had Bundy walked out the door then gone around the corner to turn himself in, THAT would be worth mentioning in the article.)

In the article Seth Black (serial killer):

At the request of Scottish detectives, the Metropolitan Police conducted a search of Black's Stamford Hill lodgings to determine whether any incriminating evidence existed at Black's address.

Comment: Yes, well, that's usually what they're searching for. (And click the link for a surprise.)

In the article Donald Trump:

A view of the Turnberry Hotel, in Ayrshire, Scotland

Comment: The reader will know without being told that this is a "view".

View of the crowd attending a Trump rally in the U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio on October 13, 2016

Comment: We're safe in assuming that the reader will intuit that this "view" shows a "crowd".

In the article Harry Elkins Widener:

Harry Elkins Widener Harry Elkins Widener Born (1885-01-03)January 3, 1885 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died April 15, 1912(1912-04-15) (aged 27) Atlantic Ocean (RMS Titanic) Known for Namesake of Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library Signature

Comment: Did I mention that it's Harry Elkins Widener? (Not every image needs a caption, and that's certainly true when it's in an infobox adorned with a title that already provides an adequate description. Alternatively, the caption might be Widener in 1910, or even simply In 1910.)

In the article James Agee:

James Agee Park in the Fort Sanders neighborhood of Knoxville, Tennessee is named after the author.

Comment: Who would have guessed?

In the article Gary M. Heidnik:

Heidnik was executed by lethal injection on July 6, 1999, at State Correctional Institution – Rockview in Centre County, Pennsylvania. His body was later cremated.

Comment: Not a moment before.

Principle of Complete Puzzlement

In the article Chuck Shumer:

In March 2009, Schumer announced his support for same-sex marriage, noting that it "was time". Schumer previously supported civil unions. At a private risotto dinner with gay leaders ...

Comment: This actually illustrates the opposite of the Principle of Some Astonishment – the Principle of Complete Puzzlement. Some details don't belong because, though neither obvious nor even predictable, they're completely irrelevant and will puzzle the reader as to the reason for their inclusion. What in the world does risotto have to do with anything? Is this the gay version of the classic pancake breakfast? Why aren't you telling us what wine was served?