Tips on becoming a better writer

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Nikamichi

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2003
7,759
0
0
Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
I have reading to thank for my ginormous vocabulary. My writing style may need work, but my vocabulary is good to go.

Protip: Reading is fundamental.
 

aloser

Senior member
Nov 20, 2004
511
1
81
1. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat.)

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

7. Be more or less specific.

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10. No sentence fragments.

11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.

14. One should NEVER generalize.

15. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.

16. Don't use no double negatives.

17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

20. The passive voice is to be ignored.

21. Avoid commas, that are not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.

23. DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!

24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.

25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth-shaking ideas.

26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.

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

28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.

29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.

30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

32. Who needs rhetorical questions?

33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

34. Do not put statements in the negative form.

35. A writer must not shift your point of view.

36. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of ten or more words, to their antecedents.

37. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

38. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

39. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

40. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

41. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

42. Always pick on the correct idiom.

43. The adverb always follows the verb.

44. Be careful to use the rite homonym. And Finally...

45. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,197
5,775
126
Originally posted by: aloser
1. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat.)

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

7. Be more or less specific.

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10. No sentence fragments.

11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.

14. One should NEVER generalize.

15. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.

16. Don't use no double negatives.

17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

20. The passive voice is to be ignored.

21. Avoid commas, that are not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.

23. DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!

24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.

25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth-shaking ideas.

26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.

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

28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.

29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.

30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

32. Who needs rhetorical questions?

33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

34. Do not put statements in the negative form.

35. A writer must not shift your point of view.

36. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of ten or more words, to their antecedents.

37. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

38. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

39. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

40. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

41. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

42. Always pick on the correct idiom.

43. The adverb always follows the verb.

44. Be careful to use the rite homonym. And Finally...

45. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

:laugh:
 

Madwand1

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2006
3,309
0
76
Originally posted by: WombRaider
I'm a really terrible essay writer. I have most of the structure and grammar nailed down, but I just can't seem to make the essay sound good, such as using the right words, making the sentences flow, etc..

Are there any tips on becoming a better writer besides keep writing more papers?

Concentrate on the ideas, not the words. If you don't have great ideas, fine, you're normal, not deficient. Think more about the topic, read more, write, and during that writing, try to get your ideas clearer. Don't try to force the words to say things that you haven't thought enough about. Unless you want to be a modern politician.

If you want a better flow, read poetry. Find stuff you like. Memorize some it -- stuff worth memorizing. Maybe write some yourself. Edit.

But the key to writing a good essay is thinking clearly, and then expressing that clearly. Focusing on the language per se is not the best idea.
 
Sep 12, 2004
16,852
59
86
Read a lot. Read a varied range of subjects. Read the classics.

But if you want to improve your writing the only way to do it is to write, and write prolifically. Reading will only get you part of the way there.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
63,921
12,234
136
Originally posted by: aloser
1. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat.)

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

7. Be more or less specific.

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10. No sentence fragments.

11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.

14. One should NEVER generalize.

15. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.

16. Don't use no double negatives.

17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

20. The passive voice is to be ignored.

21. Avoid commas, that are not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.

23. DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!

24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.

25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth-shaking ideas.

26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.

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

28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.

29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.

30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

32. Who needs rhetorical questions?

33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

34. Do not put statements in the negative form.

35. A writer must not shift your point of view.

36. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of ten or more words, to their antecedents.

37. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

38. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

39. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

40. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

41. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

42. Always pick on the correct idiom.

43. The adverb always follows the verb.

44. Be careful to use the rite homonym. And Finally...

45. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.




My Engrish teacher just had a hart atack from reeding that...
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,054
28,607
136
Everything worth writing has already been written. Just copy/paste your essays from the tubes.
 

aloser

Senior member
Nov 20, 2004
511
1
81
Originally posted by: BoomerD

My Engrish teacher just had a hart atack from reeding that...

Won of myne (7th or 8th grade) had a similar verzhun of tihs postid in her klassroom.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,059
29,984
146
Originally posted by: aloser
1. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat.)

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

7. Be more or less specific.

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10. No sentence fragments.

11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.

14. One should NEVER generalize.

15. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.

16. Don't use no double negatives.

17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

20. The passive voice is to be ignored.

21. Avoid commas, that are not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.

23. DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!

24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.

25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth-shaking ideas.

26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.

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

28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.

29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.

30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

32. Who needs rhetorical questions?

33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

34. Do not put statements in the negative form.

35. A writer must not shift your point of view.

36. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of ten or more words, to their antecedents.

37. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

38. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

39. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

40. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

41. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

42. Always pick on the correct idiom.

43. The adverb always follows the verb.

44. Be careful to use the rite homonym. And Finally...

45. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.


:beer:

actually, it's now acceptable to end sentences with prepositions. Please spread the word.
 

aloser

Senior member
Nov 20, 2004
511
1
81
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: aloser
1. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat.)

6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

7. Be more or less specific.

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10. No sentence fragments.

11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.

12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.

14. One should NEVER generalize.

15. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.

16. Don't use no double negatives.

17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

20. The passive voice is to be ignored.

21. Avoid commas, that are not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.

23. DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasize!!!

24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.

25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth-shaking ideas.

26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.

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

28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.

29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.

30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

32. Who needs rhetorical questions?

33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

34. Do not put statements in the negative form.

35. A writer must not shift your point of view.

36. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of ten or more words, to their antecedents.

37. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

38. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

39. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

40. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

41. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

42. Always pick on the correct idiom.

43. The adverb always follows the verb.

44. Be careful to use the rite homonym. And Finally...

45. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.


:beer:

actually, it's now acceptable to end sentences with prepositions. Please spread the word.

Maybe it's one of those "irregardless of what others do" scenarios, but I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen sentences start with a conjunction. Has that become "acceptable" also?
 

UberNeuman

Lifer
Nov 4, 1999
16,937
3,087
126
the bestest way to bee a gud rider is tuh reed alot of buks n tuh stoody wot tey rote....
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
15
81
On writing an essay:

Have a strong thesis that you can actually support.
Support that thesis with clear ideas.
"Tell them (the readers) what you're going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you just told them."
 
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