5. Remember: LESS IS MORE.
More often than not, a smaller, simpler word will serve you better than its high-faluting, multi-syllabic cousin. The primary purpose of writing is not to impress. It’s to communicate. Wherever you can, use the simplest, clearest words possible, and cut out unnecessary words and phrases.
6. Clean up your work.
Whether you’re writing an essay for school, a business letter, or even just an email to a friend, make it a habit to “clean it up” before sending it off. Here are three foolproof techniques you can use polish your work:
- Proofread every sentence—from the bottom up. Start with the last sentence and work backwards. You’re more likely to catch errors this way, because when you’re reading backwards, it’s much more difficult for your eye to jump ahead. (Important note: remember to read sentence-by-sentence, not word-by-word, or you really won’t understand anything.)
- Put it away for a day or two. When you go back to it later, you’ll see it with fresh eyes and notice things you never saw before. Typographical errors. Over-wordy sentences. Things you thought were perfect, that you now hate with a passion.
- Read your piece out loud. If you find yourself catching your breath, your sentences are too long. CUT. If some of the phrases or sentences sound awkward, or roll off the tongue funny, REVISE until they sound right. And lastly, if you’re torn between perfect grammar and something that sounds right, just go for what sounds right.
7. Read good writing.
The books and magazines you read influence your writing much more than you think. If you’d like to improve your writing skills, read well-written pieces – even copy them out by hand, if you’d like to go that far. You’ll see the difference in your writing style within just a few days.
The learning process might seem tedious at times, but it’s well worth it. A skill for writing is one you can carry with you no matter where you go or what you do … and it will serve you well for as long as you live.
