Some Writing Tips!

Focus on what’s important.

Be concise. This one is pretty straightforward. Think: efficacy, efficiency, and effectiveness. To keep your audience’s undivided attention, present only the most critical content in the shortest form possible. Keep out unnecessary details, repetitive phrases, and clichés. Refrain from going off on a tangent about unrelated topics. Do not write as if you were a thesaurus--sometimes, the simplest word can be the best word. Stay focused!

Example:

In his poetry, he often rambles in length on one topic and is not afraid to ask existential questions.

Correction:

In his poetry, he often rambles on about one topic and is not afraid to ask existential questions.

“Rambles” implies talking in length about one topic. Take out “in length.”

Verb choice can make or break your writing.

Ah, verbs--the words that move your sentences and move your readers. The verbs you choose can make or break your writing, so choose wisely. Try to write in the active voice so that you can “show” instead of “tell.” Stay away from variations of the “to be” verb (i.e. am, is, are, being, were, etc.) to keep your writing engaging.

Example:

This family deals more with everyday, personal struggles rather than dramatic, world-changing problems--a typical stereotype associated with the “white” experience of the American Dream.

Correction:

This family faces everyday, personal struggles rather than dramatic, world-changing problems--a typical stereotype associated with the “white” experience of the American Dream.

“Faces” is a more concise and effective verb in this sentence.

A sentence closer should be the “cherry on top.”

Writing isn’t always a free-for-all. Sometimes, parts of sentences work better in specific positions of a sentence. Try to end sentences with phrases that matter or are the most important. Dependent clauses and nonessential clauses don’t make good sentence closers--try to end with something pithy, instead.

Example:

Michael Luo, the New York Times’ Metro editor, published an open letter to a woman who told him and his family to “go back to China,” breaking the silence on the topic of racism toward Asian Americans.

Correction:

Michael Luo, the New York Times’ Metro editor, broke the silence on the topic of racism toward Asian Americans by publishing an open letter to a woman who told his family to “go back to China.”

Ending the sentence with “go back to China” is far more impacting and memorable than “breaking the silence on the topic of racism toward Asian Americans.”

Know your basic grammar rules -- be cautious when using pronouns!

Pronouns need to have clear antecedents and should agree with their antecedents in number and gender. When used incorrectly, pronouns make your writing confusing and hard to follow. In a sentence with more than one subject, use pronouns cautiously!

Example:

Many Caucasians do not see Asian Americans as “true” Americans because they do not physically resemble Caucasians.

Correction:

Many Caucasians do not see Asian Americans as “true” Americans because Asians do not physically resemble Caucasians.

Previously, it was not clear that “they” referred to Asians.