“Do not put statements in the negative form.
And don’t start sentences with a conjunction.
If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.
If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.”
(William Safire, ‘Great Rules of Writing’)
This one makes me smile, as it’s meant to, though it has plenty of truth as well.
Sally Murphy says
Thanks Penny – you've made me blush. Nice to 'meet you'
Penny Whitehouse says
Sally I am loving your blog! I adore all your posts (I am getting heaps out of reading them) and i really enjoy reading your writing quote of the week. What a great idea! I have just started a blog. Yours is one of my top ten!