Writing is something that can always be improved. While some people have a innate talent for writing, anyone’s writing can be improved by following the basic rules of style, taking time to proofread, and avoiding grammatical errors and pitfalls.
It’s also easy to fall into bad habits with writing and sometimes just recognizing them is enough to break out.
Here are five of my favorites posts on writing and how to improve your prose.
1. How to Write with Style – Kurt Vonnegut
Vonnegut’s essay on writing from 1999 offers eight points on how to write with more style. This is a wonderful piece that gives some great insight into the author’s mine and approach to writing.
Favorite Tip:
The most damning revelation you can make about yourself is that you do not know what is interesting and what is not.
2. Strunk & White’s The Element of Style
Even though you can get the most widely accepted guide to writing style online, I recommend buying this little book and keeping it on your desk at all times. A number of websites also offer quick summaries of the Strunk’s main rules.
Favorite Tip:
Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity.
3. How to Write a Thank You Note
Anyone who performs business of any kind should know how to write a proper thank you note. This post provides a six-point formula for crafting a classy note. When is the last time you sent someone a handwritten thank you note?
Favorite Tip:
I’m not going to go all Miss Manners on your ass and get into the social intricacies and delicate situations that surround thank-you note writing, as I was taught that a solid thank-you note will transcend all complicated situations—and I have seen no evidence to the contrary.
4. Ten Overused Words in Writing
Simplifying and cutting wasteful prose is a tip seen in almost every writing guide. This post helps by pointing out ten words commonly overused or misused by writers. You’ll be surprised at how many of these you use.
Favorite Tip:
Mark Twain made this comment about using “very”: “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” “Very” is a crutch for finding the right word to describe what you mean to say.
5. The Most Embarrassing Grammatical Mistakes
Grammatical mistakes are always glaring and ugly–no matter how good the writer’s prose. There are a number of common mistakes made by amateur writers. This post calls them out.
Favorite Tip:
If you keep your sentence structure simple, you are less likely to misplace a modifier. When in doubt, start with the subject, then move right away to your verb. This can lead to dry writing, but that’s better than inadvertently hilarious writing, like this: Having finished homework, the TV was turned on.
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