Guidelines for Writing
Saturday January 24, 2004
Spelling And Syntax
- Consult the dictionary to avoid mispelling.
- Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
- Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.
- No sentence fragments.
- And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
- Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.
Grammar
- Subject and verb always has to agree.
- A writer must not shift your point of view.
- Remember to never split an infinitive.
- When writing, dangling participles must be avoided.
- Everyone should be careful with singular and plural words in their writing.
- Use all adverbial forms correct.
- The adverb always follows the verb.
- If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
Clarity
- Don't use contractions in formal writing.
- Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 words or more, to their antecedents.
- Don't use no double negatives.
- Do not write statements in the negative form.
Punctuation
- Avoid commas, that aren't necessary.
- "Avoid 'inappropriate' use of quotation "marks"."
- Placing a comma between subject and predicate, is not correct.
- Parenthetical words however should be set off by commas.
- Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and leave it out when its not needed.
- Use the semicolon correctly, always use it where appropriate; and never where it isn't.
- Don't overuse exclamation marks!!!
Style
- Hopefully, you will use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
- Steer clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck in the language.
- Mixed metaphors are a pain in the ass and should be thrown out the window.
- Don't use a foreign term when there is an adequate English quid pro quo.
- It behooves the writer to avoid archaic expressions.
- Do not use hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it effectively.
- Avoid clichés like the plague.
- Avoid colloquial stuff.
- Avoid trendy locutions that sound flakey.
- Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.
- Always pick on the correct idiom.
- Don't use tautological, repetitive, or redundant words or statements.
- Don't use tautological, repetitive, or redundant words or statements.
- Puns are for children, not for readers who are groan.
- The passive voice should never be used.
- If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
