Clean markup is like good writing.
When I was in middle school I thought good writing was complicated and verbose. I used to hit the synonym button just to find a more “intelligent” alternative. My writing was wordy and my sentences often ran like long windy roads, with thoughts separated only by contrived periods and repetitive conjunctions.
But as I progressed into high school I met an English teacher that saved my life. Mrs. Semisch. See, she taught me that less is more. Good writing is the kind that says what it needs to say in fewer words. My sentences got cleaner, and in turn, wiser. I felt that I was more articulate and stylistic with my choices. My writing became a treasure map that my readers could follow, clearly and with success. It was a guide to a pot of gold, or in this case, my higher thoughts and emotions. I finally understood.
Reading the article Why Does Clean Markup Matter in Web Design? felt to me like I was re-living the lesson I learned as a writer. Writing code is like writing in the sense that structure matters a lot. The more clear and concise it is the better. Not only will it be understood in the long run, but it will effectively reduce time and complications in the website by just simply saying what it needs to say. A lengthy code does not make the website more “intelligent”. A shorter, more crisp version is much more effective.
In an ever changing world wide web, being clear becomes that much more important. Designing websites with code that is organized and blunt makes for a much better tomorrow.
Keep on writing.
-Bia Jurema