2.2.3 Use of reserved words

   Another language syndrome to be avoided is the overuse of natural language words for syntactic structuring. While not as significant a problem as terse syntax, the verbose syntax that can result in a language that becomes harder to read by virtue of the sheer bulk of information being presented. Also, symbols are more intuitive delimiters of structure than words, since natural languages use symbols exclusively for punctuation. This division between words for semantic functions and symbols for punctuation is a useful general rule, in part because of the ties with natural language, and in part because of the roles that words and symbols play. Words are useful when their function requires a degree of explanation, whereas structure delimitation requires little such explanation, so is better suited to a more brief representation.