Learn to Write Better

Anyone can learn to write better—by following these tips.

Executive Summary
Get rid of these three words in your copy:

• Of
• Is
• By

Your writing will be tremendously improved. Read to see why.

Writing flaws are based on mistakes that individuals make repeatedly. Becoming a
better writer includes eliminating these most common mistakes.

Writing Tips: The Big Five 

1. Eliminate “of” by using apostrophes in possessive clause
   “With the assistance of the manager of the home” becomes “With the home manager ’s assistance.” Tip: review the “of” in your copy and change them: ‘The Pride of Canada” becomes “Canada’s Pride.
   
   
2. "Is" can almost always be eliminated
   Look at your own sentences and find all the ways you use it.  "John is the best person for the job and he will begin his new assignment tomorrow" can be changed to "John, the best person for the job, will begin his new assignment tomorrow."
   
   
3. By: Avoid the passive voice
   This is one of the most common mistakes made in writing. Tip: every time you come across the
   word ‘by,’ it’s the passive voice. Even the appallingly literal spell check can recognize this. The ball was thrown by John. No: John threw the ball. Rigourously eliminate the word by from your copy.
   
   
4. It's and its
   “Its” is the possessive. “It’s” is a contraction. Avoid this mistake.
   
   
5. It and they
   Organizations, corporations and institutions take “it” in second references. People and descriptions of groups are they. The Golden Key Center launched "its" fall session – not GKC launched "their" courses. However, “the students of Golden Key Center started their courses.
   
   

Click through for some more good tips! 

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