The
Elements of Style is a classic primer on writing. Here are a few
of its helpful principles that you may want to incorporate into your own style: 
The active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than
the passive. This is evident from the following two pairs of sentences, in which the passive voice is shown first:
There were a number of dead leaves lying on
the ground.
Dead leaves covered the ground.
~
The meeting was called to order by John.
John called the meeting to order.
- Put statements in positive form.
Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating,
noncommittal language. For example, notice the difference in impact between the sentences below:
He was not very
often on time.
He usually came late.
As a rule, it is better to express even a negative in
positive form.
Not honest dishonest
Did not remember forgot
Did not pay any attention to ignored
- Use definite, specific, concrete language.
The greatest
writers - Homer, Dante, Shakespeare - are effective largely because they deal
in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up
pictures.
To illustrate, which of the following sentences is more forceful?
A period of
unfavorable weather set in.
It rained every day for a week.
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no
unnecessary words, and a paragraph no unnecessary sentences. When a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter.
Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.
In spite of the fact that he was overweight, he was fast.
Though
he was overweight, he was fast.
~
He is a man who knows how to succeed.
He knows how to succeed.
- The proper place in the sentence for the word or group of words that the writer desires to make most prominent is usually the end.
This steel is principally used for making razors, because of its hardness.
~
Because of its hardness, this steel is principally used for making razors.
I hope the above excerpts from The Elements of Style have whet your appetite. Your homework assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to buy your own copy and
reread it every year!
