My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules:
Avoid alliteration. Always.
Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat.)
Employ the vernacular.
Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
Contractions aren't necessary.
Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
One should never generalize.
Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
Don't be redundant; don't more use words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
Profanity sucks.
Be more or less specific.
Understatement is always best.
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
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?
Full Version: How To Write Good
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| The passive voice is to be avoided. |
My favourite.
| QUOTE (Aslan @ Aug 25 2003, 02:15 PM) | ||
My favourite. |
That's a moral contadiction for you, Aslan! You don't avoid any voice!
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| Who needs rhetorical questions? |
I like this one Shadeaux , I reckon I right good allready but ..
True. No voice is avoided by me. And my other favourite.
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| Prepositions are not words to end sentences with. |
I'm reminded of the story of the little girl who complained about the book which her mother had brought from downstairs to read to her. The little girl said What did you bring that book I didn't wnat to be read out of up for?'
Actually, you might have to be an English teacher to appreciate that one. Maybe I should start a thread on 'Common grammar mistakes we hate'.
Maybe not.
| QUOTE (schadeaux @ Aug 25 2003, 05:12 PM) |
| One should never generalize. Be more or less specific. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement. |
They are all good, but these are my favorites
Good ones schadeaux
I loved them! So subtle!
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson...at least if he does exist...
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson...at least if he does exist...
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