I was completing my final year of the Master’s program in Linguistics. One of the loose-end courses was a summer session on writing. I was not terribly excited to sign up, but the course was required and this one could be completed in six weeks. Intense, but over-with-in-a-hurry.

The professor was a writer himself, essayist, poet, literary critic. He insisted that the old adage, “You learn to write by writing” was gospel. So we wrote – and rewrote – and critiqued – and revised – and occasionally started over. Narrative, Expository, Persuasive, Descriptive . One would think, then, that his attention to the textbook we were assigned, Joseph Williams’, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, might become an afterthought. That it never became. We were asked to respond to the content (in writIng) and were required to do almost all of the exercises that followed each chapter. What was different about Williams was his method. He did not simply advise, but actually demonstrated techniques that allow writers to write succinctly and clearly. That is why a summary like this one will not do him, or his book, justice.

Nevertheless, here they are: the key writing rules he suggests:

1. Focus on the Reader:
   • Always write with the reader in mind. Aim to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively by considering what your reader needs to know and how they will best understand it.
2. Be Concise:
   • Avoid unnecessary words and phrases. Write succinctly by eliminating redundancies, filler words, and overly complex structures that don’t contribute to the meaning.
3. Emphasize the Subject and Verb:
   • Place the main subject and verb early in the sentence to ensure clarity. This keeps the focus on the action and makes sentences easier to understand.
4. Use Active Voice:
   • Prefer active voice over passive voice, as it tends to be more direct and vigorous. Passive voice can obscure the actor or make sentences feel less engaging.
5. Keep Sentences and Paragraphs Unified:
   • Ensure that each sentence and paragraph has a clear main idea and that all parts contribute to this idea. Cohesion within and between sentences helps maintain clarity.
6. Choose Strong Verbs:
   • Use precise and vivid verbs rather than relying on weak or abstract ones. Strong verbs convey action more clearly and make writing more dynamic.
7. Reduce Nominalizations:
   • Avoid turning verbs or adjectives into nouns (e.g., “decision” instead of “decide”). This can make writing unnecessarily formal or abstract. Use the verb form instead for more straightforward communication.
8. Use Parallel Structure:
   • Maintain parallelism in sentences and lists. When similar ideas are expressed in similar structures, it enhances readability and balance.
9. Control the Flow of Information:
   • Structure sentences to control the order in which information is revealed. Start with familiar information and introduce new concepts later, guiding the reader through your ideas logically.
10. Revise for Clarity and Grace:

• Writing is a process, and revision is key. Rework sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity, eliminate ambiguity, and achieve a more graceful style. Focus on the rhythm and flow of your writing.

Again (as I said with Strunk and White), if you have $5 and drive by a used bookshop, this is a book worth owning. It is NOT a quick read, but if you take his instruction seriously, you will become a better writer.