Professor Stephen Greene's | |||
 | |||
1. The lead sentence is the most important one in your story. Make it short (less than 30 words) and to the point. The first element in the lead (who, what, when, where, why or how) must be the most important point.
2. Use the active voice.
3. Write simple sentences: subject, verb, direct object.
4. Avoid all conjunctions, like "however" and "nevertheless."
5. If in doubt, don't capitalize.
6. Watch for subject-verb and antecedent agreement.
7. Place quotes high in the story.
8. Show, don't tell.
9. Use strong verbs; avoid the verb "to be."
10. Be consistent.
Here are some sites for teaching gammar as put together by one of our teachers at JMC, Cynthia McCune. To see them, click here. These are from Easywriter by Andrea Lunsford, Bedford/St Martin's: New York, 2002
Some Examples of What Not to Do Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
Employ the vernacular.
Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
Remember to never split an infinitive.
Contractions aren't necessary.
Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
One should never generalize.
Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
Be more or less specific.
Understatement is always best.
One-word sentences? Eliminate.
Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
The passive voice is to be avoided.
Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
Who needs rhetorical questions?
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
Don't never use a double negation.
capitalize every sentence and remember always end it with point
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 a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
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 cliches like the plague; They're old hat; seek viable alternatives
| |||
 | | | |