[Many students are hard at work in college. Or maybe just in college. But as
a retired professor, I’d like to share some tips to help in writing your
papers, essays, etc]
Avoid alliteration. Always.
Employ the vernacular.
Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
Remember to never split an infinitive.
Contractions aren’t necessary.
One should never generalize.
Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell
me what you know.”
Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly
superfluous.
Be more or less specific.
Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
The passive voice is to be avoided.
Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
Who needs rhetorical questions?
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
Do not put statements in the negative form.
Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition
is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague; They’re old hat; seek
viable alternatives.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
[email protected] www.grif.net
“Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!”