ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Belles-lettres

Belles-lettres is a big word that means beautiful writing. It's like when you write a letter or a story, and you take special care to make it pretty and fun to read.

Think of it like making a delicious cake. You could just slap some frosting on top and be done with it, but that wouldn't be very special. Instead, you might decorate it with flowers, swirls, and sparkly sprinkles. Belles-lettres is like the decorating you put on your writing to make it special.

When people write belles-lettres, they're usually trying to make their words sound fancy or poetic. They might use big words or write in a way that sounds old-fashioned. It's kind of like how people dress up in their fanciest clothes for a special occasion.

Belles-lettres can include all sorts of writing, like novels, poems, and even letters you might write to your friends or family. It's all about making your writing extra special and beautiful to read.
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