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Writers and Editors (RSS feed)

William Safire's Delightful Rules for Writers

A brilliant and useful oldie but goody.

 

• 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 agreat deal of repetition can be by rereading andediting.

• 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 clichés like the plague; seek viable alternatives.

 

Intelligent advice to make you both think and smile.

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