3 Universal Rules of Writing
Introduction
Universal Rules of Writing… There are so many different types of writing that it’s futile trying to list them all.
Yet, there are some principles that hold true in almost every writing situation. I’m tempted to call them “Universal Rules” of good writing, in ANY language.
Here are three such rules:
Brevity
If you can express an idea in one word, do NOT use two words. Shorter is always better unless you’re writing a poem or involved in some aesthetic experiment.
For example, “I did go there” is always better than “as a matter of fact, I did go there”. Eliminate the deadwood and allow your text to breathe comfortably.
Modularity
Break down long procedural descriptions into easily digestible short steps.
Chop your long paragraphs into shorter ones.
If writing for the web, don’t be timid to post each sentence on its own line, with white space in between individual sentences.
Headers
Break up your text with bold headers and sub-headers since most people will only skim through the headers.
Headers that contain the gist of the paragraph below increase comprehension and retention.
For example, here is a good one: “How G-30 suntan lotion reduces skin cancer rate.”
And here is a not-so-good header preceding the same hypothetical paragraph: “Suntan Lotion, Sun, and Your Life.”
Other Rules of Good Writing
- Be Clear: Make sure that you are clear about what you are trying to say in each sentence. Avoid using words that could have more than one meaning or use synonyms for words that are less ambiguous.
- Be Persuasive: Use strong vocabulary, concise sentences, and compelling arguments to persuade your reader to take an action or change their opinion.
- Use Active Voice.
- Know Your Audience. If your audience is Wall Street brokers, they’ll know what you mean by “hedging strategy.” But an audience of farmers will think you are talking about green hedges around homes and fields.
Conclusion
Good writing is a skill that is hard to master, but the universal rules of good writing can help you improve your skills and make your content more readable and persuasive.
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