34 Rules of Writing

Back when I was in HS, I saw the 11 Rules of Writing written in a book. (Apologies, but for the life of me, I can’t remember the title). So to avoid any legal issues, i did not come up with the rules. Okay? Not mine.

 

So back to topic. I had already posted the 11 rules, when I came across a much longer set of rules. Turns out, there are 33! (I also added one from the 11 which wasn’t mentioned so it’s now 34!) These 34 rules are probably really the most basic rules you need when writing.  Enjoy! (The stuff below is pasted from moonbeans blog which s/he got from here)

 

 

1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid clichés like the plague. (They’re old hat)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually)
   unnecessary.
9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be used.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it’s
    highly superfluous.
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
16. Don’t use no double negatives.
17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words
    however should be enclosed in commas.
22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
23. Kill all exclamation points!!!
24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth
    shaking ideas.
26. Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place and omit it when its not
    needed.
27. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate
    quotations. Tell me what you know.”
28. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Resist
    hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
32. Who needs rhetorical questions?
33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
34. Proof read carefully to see if you any words out