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30 Writing Tips to Make Writing Easier, Don’t email angry., Set writing…
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Don’t email angry.
you might be irked at your colleague for dropping the ball on that project and making you look bad, but don’t send emails when you’re still fuming. If you must write when emotions are hot, do it offline. Walk away for at least twelve hours, then edit with a calm head.
Grammarly’s tone detector can help you moderate your tone when you do come back to your keyboard. Get helpful writing tips and assessments of how your writing sounds to your recipient.
Set writing goals.
Maybe you want to write a certain number of words per day or upgrade your vocabulary. You can’t reach a goal unless you have one, so write that goal down and work toward it.
Write in the morning.
rammarly’s research also shows early birds make fewer writing mistakes. (No matter when you write, Grammarly has your back. Try Grammarly to get more writing tips to help keep you on track.)
Write daily.
Getting started on a big writing project can feel intimidating if you’re not used to the act of writing. Practice this skill daily—whether a short sentence or full paragraph—to get accustomed to the mental and physical concept of writing.
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Outline.
If you often find yourself rambling on without a clear structure, start with an outline. Follow this simple, no-fail outlining process to organize yourself from the start.
Keep it brief.
Brevity is important in professional communication. Respect your colleagues’ time by knowing exactly what you need to communicate before you begin writing so you can keep your message concise.
Use active voice.
Writing in active voice animates your writing so that the subject is acting on its verb. An active voice reads as being more confident and self-assured; it’s also a great way to shave superfluous words from your writing.
Don’t neglect context.
Does the person you’re communicating with have the same information and frame of reference you do? If not, make sure you provide context. You don’t have to give the entire backstory, just fill in the missing pieces so your message will be clear.
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Write like you talk, within reason.
Your writing should sound natural and fluid. Unless you’re communicating in a more formal context, write as though you’re talking to a friend.
Don’t ramble.
We just said “Write like you talk”, but there’s a caveat—don’t ramble. Avoid winding twists and turns, and don’t use filler words such as like, really, and you know. Good writing should get to the point and avoid fluff.
Be a storyteller.
No matter what the message is, we humans are drawn to stories. Consider Pixar’s guide.
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Avoid cliche.
As you’re reading through what you’ve written, look for overused phrases that can be recast in a fresh and unique way. It’s one of the most common writing tips, but also one of the most ignored.
Dump adverbs.
Get rid of most adverbs and use stronger verb choices instead. When you do, ran swiftly becomes darted and cried pitifully becomes wailed. Remember what Stephen King said: “I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
Develop your comma mojo.
The comma is a misunderstood punctuation mark. There are many rules for proper comma usage, but if you study them, they’ll become second nature. Here’s a quick guide. And here’s another that lists the most common comma struggles and how to solve them.
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Keep reading, learning, and practicing.
Read about writing to get more writing tips. (You’re here, so you’re off to a good start!) Read widely, and you’ll learn writing tips by osmosis. And practice often. The best way to improve your writing is by doing it. And if you need a distraction-free writing space to practice, Grammarly has your back