5 quick tips for improving your writing
- Get rid of “that.”
- Do not invoke the future tense unless it is needed.
- Do not capitalize words to emphasize their importance.
- Say what you have to say in the fewest words possible.
- Avoid dangling modifiers.
Nine times out of ten, the word “that” can be profitably eliminated from your sentence.
Original: “Here are the key metrics that web analysts measure.”
Better: “Here are the key metrics web analysts measure.”
Original: “Optimizing your web site will increase traffic.”
Better: “Optimizing your web site increases traffic.”
Original: “It is the policy of the Company to provide up to 10 paid Sick Days.”
Better: “It is the policy of the company to provide up to 10 paid sick days.”
Original: “He was driving at an excessive rate of speed.”
Better: “He was driving too fast.”
Wrong: “As a policyholder, I want you to know that you can reduce your premiums by 50% this year.”
Correct: “As a policyholder, you can reduce your premiums by 50% this year.”
From Bob Bly (”America’s Top Copywriter”)
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically each day to your feed reader. If you don't have a feed reader, you can always have these articles delivered to your email inbox every day. Click here to sign up.
Great tips. These are often overlooked by bloggers
I’m Guilty of breaking some of these “Rules”. Hehe.
Everyone is guilty!!!
I guess since blogs, social networking site, and other tools make it easy for anyone to become an “author”, people care less nowadays on clarity and simplicity. I wonder how many bloggers read The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.