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How can I write well?

January 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Answer: Follow these famous witty rules of William Safire:

William Safire’s Rules for Writers:

  • Remember to never split an infinitive.
  • The passive voice should never be used.
  • Do not put statements in the negative form.
  • Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
  • Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
  • If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
  • A writer must not shift your point of view.
  • And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
  • Don’t overuse exclamation 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.
  • If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
  • Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
  • Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
  • Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
  • Always pick on the correct idiom.
  • The adverb always follows the verb.
  • Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.

Written by William Safire  in his “On Language” column in the New York Times on 4 November 1979

Here are some more famous rules writing rules:


George Orwell’s 6 Rules for Writing Well:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

from George Orwell: Politics and the English Language

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How can I write clearly, concisely, forcefully and humanly?

May 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

14 Rules of Clear, Concise, Forceful, Human Writing

  

BE CLEAR

1.         Especially when writing to the general public: Have you used any words your reader may not understand?

2.         Especially when writing to people outside your area: Have you defined all unfamiliar jargon terms? Would plain, everyday words be easier for your reader?

3.         Have you used any long, fancy, formal words such as utilise and endeavour when you could have used short, plain everyday words such as use and try?

4.         Have you used any vague, general terms such as a considerable saving, several new staff, when you could have given specific, precise details such as a saving of $5000 a month, seven new staff?

 

BE CONCISE

5.         Have you used any wordy phrases such as a great number of and a sufficient number of when you could have used single words such as many and enough?

6.         Have you spelt out any details which are obvious such as pink in colour and the months of May and June?

7.         Have you unintentionally repeated yourself anywhere such as be truthful and honest, definite decision and circle around?

8.         Have you started any sentences with “It is” or “There is”? Would these sentences work better if you started them another way?

 

BE FORCEFUL

9.         Have you used any abstract noun phrases such as took measurements of instead of strong verbs such as measured?

10.        Are any of your sentences in the passive voice such as The boy was hit by the man? Would any of these passive voice sentences read better in the active voice such as The man hit the boy.

 

BE HUMAN (except in very formal documents )

11.        Have you missed any opportunities to use personal pronouns like I and you and we?

12.        Would any of your sentences read better as direct questions? For example, the statement I need to find out whether you are coming to the Senior Executives meeting on Wednesday would be better written as a question: Are you coming to the Senior Executives meeting on Wednesday?

13.        When you know your reader quite well: Have you used your reader’s name in your letter? If not, is  there anywhere you could use their name, for example, Also, thanks, Joe, for the booklet on emu farming.

14.        For relaxed, friendly letters: Have you remembered to use contractions such as don’t and can’t and     I’ll when appropriate?

                                                                   

 

Filed Under: communication, effective writing style, writing