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Saturday, March 03, 2007

Writing Tips

As a public service here at Say Anything for the linguistically challenged (and you know who you are!) I offer the following writing tips:



1. Avoid alliteration. Always.


2. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.


3. The adverb always follows the verb.


4. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.


5. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.


6. Remember to never split an infinitive.


7. Contractions aren’t necessary.


8. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.


9. One should never generalize.


10. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”


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


12. Be more or less specific.


13. One-word sentences? Eliminate.


14. The passive voice is to be avoided.


15. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.


16. Who needs rhetorical questions?


17. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.


18. Don’t never use a double negation.


19. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.


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


21. And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)


22. Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!!!!!!


23. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.


24. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.


25. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; they’re old hat; seek viable alternatives.
-anon

Comments

If I didn’t do 75% of those things… this would be funny. *tear*


“Hope is not a method.” - Common Military Saying

The above is a statement of pro activity.  If any Soldier were to tell me that he hoped what he was briefing was going to come to fruition, that would be unacceptable.  We in the Army do not have the luxury to ‘hope’ that things will end well.  Hope will get us killed.  Instead, we must plan and take action.  Hope is not a method.

As a leader I can never ‘hope’ that my Soldiers have the proper training.  I can never ‘hope’ that my Soldiers have the proper logistical supplies.  I can never ‘hope’ that my Soldiers will survive the next mission.  Hope is not a method; I live in the real world.

Paulie B on March 3, 2007 at 12:10 pm
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Rob,

A post offering constructive criticism of writing practices on SAB has crossed my mind on more than one occasion—probably because one reason I comment and post here is to exercise and improve my writing and communication skills.  It is also a reason I read many of the comments and posts as well. Instruction with constrasting examples are helpful, thanks.

HG on March 3, 2007 at 12:53 pm
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Sorry Proof, I just assumed Rob.

Thanks for the post.

HG on March 3, 2007 at 01:02 pm
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1. Avoid alliteration. Always.

Ha!

Actually, I like alliteration.  I don’t strive for it, but it’s always a happy accident when it happens.  And who doesn’t love terms like “nattering nabobs of negativity?”

I do my best writing the posts, but my big problem is that I’m always rushed in writing them...and when I proofread I usually see what I meant to write and not what I did write.

I wish the blog could have an editor, but that just wouldn’t work…


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on March 3, 2007 at 01:27 pm

I resent this post.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on March 3, 2007 at 01:40 pm
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Sorry Proof, I just assumed Rob.

HG: No problem! I don’t need to take credit for all the good stuff as long as I can occasionally skip credit for the bad stuff!

I resent this post.

Whistler: I resemble this post! Just a humorous look at the language we all use (and sometimes abuse!)



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 3, 2007 at 01:50 pm

Whistler: I resemble this post! Just a humorous look at the language we all use (and sometimes abuse!)

That was a tongue in cheek resentment.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on March 3, 2007 at 04:06 pm

Proof,

Far more than merely funny, your post is witty and wise.  Thank you!


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on March 3, 2007 at 04:47 pm

Proof,

Generally speaking, you’ve basically described my entire style of writing. Mostly. Damn. I’ll have to re-think this about a million times. Maybe. Well, like I always say sometimes, c’est la vie!

And I’ll never forget the words of some brilliant writer or another (I can’t remember his name right now) when he said, “Never..”, no wait...it was “Always...” No, that’s not right, either. Neither. Whatever. Oh! I know what it was!!! It was...no, no, that’s not it.

Oh, well. Good post.


The future ain’t what it used to be.....

Pilgrim on March 5, 2007 at 12:08 pm

Proof proudly provides proper philology.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on March 5, 2007 at 12:13 pm
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Whistler: Well written!



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 5, 2007 at 02:45 pm
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Pilgrim: Positive progress!



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 5, 2007 at 02:46 pm

Proof,

You’ve overlooked and forgotten to put in any rules again about redundancy and saying the same thing several different ways.


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on March 7, 2007 at 04:56 pm
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You’ve overlooked and forgotten to put in any rules again about redundancy and saying the same thing several different ways.

See # 11 (number eleven).



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 7, 2007 at 05:09 pm

I think it’s right after 10.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on March 7, 2007 at 05:11 pm

But before #12.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on March 7, 2007 at 05:11 pm
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XI



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 7, 2007 at 05:18 pm
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Oops! Foreign word!



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 7, 2007 at 05:19 pm

Not from around here either.

How about the first prime number after 7?


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on March 7, 2007 at 05:31 pm
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L - XXXIX, C - LXXXIX

The only thing I know “prime” is “rib” or “undercoat”!



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 7, 2007 at 05:36 pm
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Whistler: Why do I get the impression that we are too easily amused?



Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Proof on March 7, 2007 at 05:41 pm

Oooh!  Ooooh!  I know this one!!!

Its because we are too easily amused.  (And most likely cursed with both an inordinately low tolerance for boredom, and a perverse sense of humor besides.)


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on March 7, 2007 at 05:58 pm

Whistler: Why do I get the impression that we are too easily amused?

My wife doesn’t think I’m “very damned funny” either.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on March 7, 2007 at 06:37 pm
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