WRITING TIPS

1. ACTIVE!

Text should be written in the active voice, not the passive voice.

FIX

Funds were raised for the American Cancer Society’s annual drive.

2. Participles

Avoiding verbs+ing (participles) as much as possible is wise.

Acceptable: The ACS was expending effort to raise funds for its annual drive.

Better: The ACS expended effort to raise funds for its annual drive.

3. Don’t Split Verbs

Do not regularly split verbs. Split Verb: She had longingly waited for that

“special day.” Better: She had waited longingly for that

“special day.”

4. Infinitives

Do not split infinitives (to + verb) to better explain your point.

Split infinitive: to better understand, to simultaneously change

Better: to understand better, to change simultaneously.

5. Sexism

Guys should avoid sexist terminology.

Only refer to gender when it is necessary, otherwise use neutral nouns and pronouns (individuals, one, people, etc.)

6. Contractions

Don’t use contractions in formal writing.

It’s more acceptable, formal and educated sounding to avoid contractions, so you shouldn’t use them.

7. Proofread

Proofreed your works very carefully for both spelling and correct grammar.

8. Tenses

All verb tenses should agrees. Pick one (past or present tense) and stick with it.

John entered the library. He speaks to the librarian. Finally, John chooses a book.

John entered the library. He spoke to the librarian. Finally, John chose a book.

9. ?

One should avoid rhetorical questions, don’t you think? They sound tiresome, don’t they?

(2 errors)

10. Commas

Comma splices are common mistakes made by undergraduates, consequently, when one has two independent clauses, the use of a semi-colon is preferable over a comma.

11. Fragments

That students use sentence fragments is unacceptable.

12. You

You should avoid the use of the second person pronoun when writing because it comes across as talking at you rather than communicating with you.

13. Alliteration

Avoid alliteration. Always. (in formal writing-essays.)

14. Prepositions

Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

Where are you at?

15. Clichés

Avoid clichés like the plague. They are old hat.

Cliché- a trite or overused expression or idea.

Face the music needle in a haystack strong as an ox easier said than done

EXAMPLES

Face the music Strong as an ox Needle in a haystack Easier said than done Better late than never Ripe old age Gentle as a lamb

Green with envy Hard as a rock Shoulder the burden Untimely death Add insult to injury At the drop of a hat Like the pot calling the

kettle black

16. Language

Employ the vernacular.

Use plain,everyday, clear language.

17. Short-cuts

Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

Do not use & or abbreviations et cetera.

18. Parenthesis

Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.

19. Foreign words

Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

Fitting; at the right time

20. Generalizations

One should never generalize.

21. Quotations

Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”

22. Comparisons

Comparisons are as bad as clichés.

23. Repetition

Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.

24. Specify

Be more or less specific.

25. Sentences

One-word sentences? Eliminate.

26. Analogies

Analogies in formal writing are like feathers on a snake.

27. Colloquialisms

Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal; involving or using conversation.

28. Metaphors

Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

29. Exaggeration

Exaggeration in formal writing is a billion times worse than understatement.