Rules For Writers

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Jackie Olsen
Posts: 619
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 1998 6:01 am
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Rules For Writers

Post by Jackie Olsen »

I came across some "tips" for writing and thought it would be helpful Image

RULES FOR WRITERS and WANNA-BES
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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 cliches 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 propos.

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

14. One should NEVER generalize.

15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.

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. Eliminate 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 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. The passive voice should never be used.

36. Do not put statements in the negative form.

37. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.

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

39. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.

40. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

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

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

43. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

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

45. Always pick on the correct idiom.

46. The adverb always follows the verb.

47. Be careful to use the rite homonym.

And Finally......

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


Jackie


[This message has been edited by Jackie Olsen (edited 12-17-99).]
Lori
Posts: 865
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 1998 6:01 am

Rules For Writers

Post by Lori »

Jackie-san,

Very cute! You must have been peeking in some of my fourth-graders' English notebooks! Seriously - I printed a copy out - we're going to have some fun with that. Thank you!

Peace,
Lori
david
Posts: 2077
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 1998 6:01 am
Location: Boston, MA

Rules For Writers

Post by david »

As everyone here knows, I follow those rules exactly!

david
Allen M.

Rules For Writers

Post by Allen M. »

Jackie,

Nice!

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Allen, now at his new website www.ury2k.com
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