Some team members will be less experienced than others. The following are principles and pointers to ensure good writing. Adhering to these may be sufficient to elevate your writing from good to great. This list may be updated periodically.
Principle: Maximize verb, minimize adverb/adjective use.
Example: The woman ran quickly through the park.
Corrected: The woman cut through the park.
Example 2: Her hair was bouncy and bright.
Corrected: Her hair bounced and shone.
Example 3: The day was dark, bleak, and lonely.
Corrected: The day was lonely.
Principle: Vary sentence structure and length.
Example: This is a short sentence. This is another short sentence. This one is also about equal.
Corrected: This is a short sentence. This is another short sentence. This third sentence is longer than the preceding two in order to create rhythm. Can you tell?
Principle: Do not repeat the same word several times in one piece.
Example: He perceived some curiosity in his friend’s countenance…. Later, when they perceived the truth...
Corrected: He detected his friend’s curiosity...Later, when they perceived the truth...
Principle: Choose the best words.
Example: The new knowledge helped increase his skills.
Corrected: The acquired knowledge helped refine his skills.
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” - Mark Twain
Principle: Avoid cliche. When you edit your work, if you find a cliche, remove it.
Principle: Avoid redundancies; some are subtle.
Example: With his eyes, he saw a dog.
Corrected: He saw a dog.
Principle: Include concrete details.
Example: My high school teacher was notoriously strict.
Corrected: My high school teacher, Mrs. Sawnson, reserved a portion of the blackboard, visible from outside of the classroom, to mark those who had misbehaved.
Principle: Be concise. Avoid superfluity at all costs. Less is more. When editing your work, do your best to identify any words or sentences you can remove.
Principle: Be sure to use proper grammar.
Pointer: Avoid mixed metaphors.
Example: Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus.
Correction: Life’s moods are like a string of beads...
Pointer: Use parentheses sparingly. If you have a thought you would like to include in parentheses, question whether including that thought adds or detracts from the quality of your work. Reserve parenthetical notes only for necessary information.
Pointer: Minimize the use of the words “very” and “ a lot”.
Example: He was very powerful.
Correction: He was powerful.
Example: I loved her a lot.
Correction: I adored her.
Principle: Maximize verb, minimize adverb/adjective use.
Example: The woman ran quickly through the park.
Corrected: The woman cut through the park.
Example 2: Her hair was bouncy and bright.
Corrected: Her hair bounced and shone.
Example 3: The day was dark, bleak, and lonely.
Corrected: The day was lonely.
Principle: Vary sentence structure and length.
Example: This is a short sentence. This is another short sentence. This one is also about equal.
Corrected: This is a short sentence. This is another short sentence. This third sentence is longer than the preceding two in order to create rhythm. Can you tell?
Principle: Do not repeat the same word several times in one piece.
Example: He perceived some curiosity in his friend’s countenance…. Later, when they perceived the truth...
Corrected: He detected his friend’s curiosity...Later, when they perceived the truth...
Principle: Choose the best words.
Example: The new knowledge helped increase his skills.
Corrected: The acquired knowledge helped refine his skills.
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” - Mark Twain
Principle: Avoid cliche. When you edit your work, if you find a cliche, remove it.
Principle: Avoid redundancies; some are subtle.
Example: With his eyes, he saw a dog.
Corrected: He saw a dog.
Principle: Include concrete details.
Example: My high school teacher was notoriously strict.
Corrected: My high school teacher, Mrs. Sawnson, reserved a portion of the blackboard, visible from outside of the classroom, to mark those who had misbehaved.
Principle: Be concise. Avoid superfluity at all costs. Less is more. When editing your work, do your best to identify any words or sentences you can remove.
Principle: Be sure to use proper grammar.
Pointer: Avoid mixed metaphors.
Example: Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus.
Correction: Life’s moods are like a string of beads...
Pointer: Use parentheses sparingly. If you have a thought you would like to include in parentheses, question whether including that thought adds or detracts from the quality of your work. Reserve parenthetical notes only for necessary information.
Pointer: Minimize the use of the words “very” and “ a lot”.
Example: He was very powerful.
Correction: He was powerful.
Example: I loved her a lot.
Correction: I adored her.
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