If you want specific rules on word usage, documentation, punctuation, see
the Writing Center Homepage. Here are some of
other rules:
Questionable Rules
Try to be exciting, surprising; get your reader's attention. [We
don't know very much about doing that.]
Try to write as if your reader doesn't know a thing about what you're
talking about. [That's simply not true. Take into account what your
readers need to know and make clear what you yourself know.]
Save the best for last. [You don't have to strive for suspense. If
your points are worthwhile, they'll carry you a long way.]
Tell 'em what you're going to say; tell 'em; tell 'em what you said.
[Here's a formula for a boring paper if I ever saw one.]
Practice honest writing. [Lots of baloney in that one.]
Strive for a personal style. [Write all the time. Write well and
clearly and you'll start looking like you have something of a "personal style."
Try too hard and you'll look stupid.]
Strive for "sentence variety." [We actually don't know very much
about "sentence variety."]
Never begin a sentence with "because" or "and." [More baloney
here.]
Always rewrite because "writing is rewriting." [Be careful of that
one. Writers re-write their good stuff; they don't always rewrite their bad
stuff. In writing classes, re-writing can become punishment--used by
autocratic or paternal teachers to make sure their students can follow
directions,
obey, listen, or otherwise recognize authority.]
Good writers free write. [Some do; some don't. Writing teachers
often over-value the exercise of "writing down whatever comes to your
mind."]
Always outline. [Some people outline; others don't. It
sometimes depends on how hard your subject is or how complex your
thoughts are or how good your short-term memory is or how easily you get
distracted.]
A good paper has a beginning, middle, and end. [Some papers
have itty bitty beginnings and no endings. It depends on how tough the
subject is, what the problem is.]
Never use the passive voice. [Use the passive voice--but when
you do, do so on purpose. (We work on this in English 110.) ]
Avoid "be" verbs. [Be verbs are important. But know when to
use them.]
Avoid "I." [Well, you don't have to call attention to yourself and
jump up and down, shouting "I . . . I . . . I!!!"--but you don't have to avoid
claiming what you've just said, either.]
Never be redundant. [English is a very redundant language. In
fact, people repeat themselves over and over again.]
Always know your audience. [You can sort of know something
about who you're writing for. You can sort of guess what a particular
teacher wants, for instance--what theories he/she wants you to use, explain,
or whatever . . . but be careful. We seldom know enough about our readers
to write bullet-proof papers or thoroughly persuasive arguments.
Sometimes, we know absolutely nothing about who will read what we write.
]
Perhaps Better Rules (or just some more exhortations)
Put your good ideas right out front where you'll have to deal with them
and others will have to confront or manage them. Don't try to imply
anything or hint where you need to shout.
Explain things first; then criticize, comment on, or evaluate what you've
explained. [Always account for your opposition.]
Think about simple connectors like "first . . . second . . . finally . . ."
Think about stuff--lots of stuff--lists, repetitions, names.
When in doubt, repeat what you've said. (As I said up in the previous
section, English is a very loose, redundant language. It spreads out and
takes up a lot of space. Keep reminding your readers of what you're doing--
even when it looks like it's soooo obvious!!
Weight your ideas. (Tell your readers which is best, most interesting,
most essential, least interesting, etc.)
Keep your writing simple, clear, and reasonable. Throw away your
thesaurus or if you're short, sit on it. Throw away your quirky style. If your
sentences get crabbed or messy, start limiting the number of words in each
sentence.
Do one thing at a time.
Learn to bluff. (Ninety percent of all writing is bluff.)
Learn to value such words as "perhaps," "maybe," "may be," "looks like,"
"could be," "might assume." (These are not wishy-washy words--they carry
theoretical, academic weight.)
Learn to make disclaimers. (Tell your readers what you're not
prepared to say, what you haven't exactly said, what you're afraid will be
misunderstood.)
Learn the value and dangers of words like "good," "bad," "smart,"
"truthful," "beautiful."
Watch out for words like "all," "for ever," "every," "never," "Americans,"
"society," "liberal," "conservative," "family values," "nobody," "true," "false,"
"unimaginable," "thoughtful," "reasonable," "simple."
Don't quote "Webster" as an authority unless you absolutely have to.
Don't allude to Leave It To Beaver or June Cleaver or
Beaver Cleaver.
Don't assert that "everyone is entitled to his/her opinion."
Don't let famous people say what you could say yourself.