How to Write Good

I spend a lot of time writing, both for work and for pleasure.

Actually, make that a lot of time writing.

While reviewing two articles this week, I referred back to a list of writing helps. I keep this list handy for moments when I feel that proof-reading one more sentence might drive me mad.

In the spirit of good writing and less proof-reading for me, I thought I’d share these tips and tricks with you.

• Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.
• Don’t use no double negatives.
• Reserve the apostrophe for it’s proper use and omit it when its not needed.
• Do not put statements in the negative form.
• No sentence fragments.
• Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
• Avoid commas, that are not necessary.
• If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
• A writer must not shift your point of view.
• And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
• Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!!
• “Avoid overuse of ‘quotation’ “marks.”‘”
• Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
• Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
• It is incumbent on us to avoid archaisms.
• If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
• Steer clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck in the language.
• Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixed metaphors.
• Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
• Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
• Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
• Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
• If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, resist hyperbole.
• Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.
• Don’t string too many prepositional phrases together unless you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
• The adverb always follows the verb.
• Don’t verb nouns.
• Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
• Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.