Writing effectively is a skill that everyone could easily improve on. Practice makes perfect, so I will continue to practice my below average writing skills. Here are some quick ways to kick your writing up a notch.
Writing with clarity
Poor: She was in bed watching her puppy with a bag of chips.
Wait. Who has the bag of chips? ‘She’ or the puppy?
Better: She was in bed with a bag of chips watching her puppy.
Reducing Clutter
Poor: I dropped out of school on account of the fact that I joined the circus.
This has too many words.
Better: I dropped out of school to join the circus.
Sentence Variety
Poor: My roommate is Casey. She went to buy toilet paper.
This can easily be one sentence.
Better: Casey, my roommate, went to buy toilet paper.
Sentence Emphasis
Poor: My mom called me today to tell me that my sister received her college acceptance letter today!
What is more important? That my mom called me? Or that my sister was accepted to college?
Better: My sister was accepted into college today, my mom confirmed.
Writing with clarity
Poor: She was in bed watching her puppy with a bag of chips.
Wait. Who has the bag of chips? ‘She’ or the puppy?
Better: She was in bed with a bag of chips watching her puppy.
Reducing Clutter
Poor: I dropped out of school on account of the fact that I joined the circus.
This has too many words.
Better: I dropped out of school to join the circus.
Sentence Variety
Poor: My roommate is Casey. She went to buy toilet paper.
This can easily be one sentence.
Better: Casey, my roommate, went to buy toilet paper.
Sentence Emphasis
Poor: My mom called me today to tell me that my sister received her college acceptance letter today!
What is more important? That my mom called me? Or that my sister was accepted to college?
Better: My sister was accepted into college today, my mom confirmed.
