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Rules of Thumb

‪25 ways to screw up your writing according to me and whoever told me so.‬

  1. Avoid idioms.
  2. Always avoid adverbs.
  3. Give us a reason.
  4. Say what needs to be said.
  5. Say what’s true.
  6. Believe what you say.
  7. Have a point.
  8. Make a point.
  9. Get to the point.
  10. Make sense.
  11. Give it structure.
  12. Be organized.
  13. Be scannable.
  14. Be consistent.
  15. Be concise.
  16. Don’t be clever.
  17. Don’t try.
  18. Don’t write what you wouldn’t say out loud.
  19. Emojis? 👍 Here and there.
  20. Simple, but no simpler.
  21. If it’s long, it’s too long.
  22. Care.
  23. Surprise yourself.
  24. Make it worth reading.
  25. Break the rules.