Writing Hints

1. Be sure each sentence contains a subject and a verb (do not use sentence fragments) that agree in
number

2. Capitalize appropriate words

3. Do not use first person pronouns (I, we, me, my, our)

4. Use consistent verb tense. Stay in the past or present tense throughout your writing!

5. A pronoun needs a clear antecedent and agrees with it in number; be especially careful is using "it"

6. Avoid passive verbs; use active verbs

7. "It’s" means it is; "its" is a possessive pronoun

8. Quotations should be used sparingly, but do not use someone else’s words without quotation
marks and proper citation (a page number will usually do.) Remember, plagiarism is a crime

9. Do NOT use contractions in serious writing (ex.: Can’t, don’t, I’ll....)

10. Use a dictionary if you must, but spell words correctly

11. "Their" is possessive pronoun. "They’re" means "they are." "There" generally refers to location

12. Do not run together two independent clauses

13. Place modifiers near what they modify

14. Avoid dashes, parentheses, semicolons, and colons

15. A novel is fiction. Historical works are not. History books, therefore, aren’t novels

16. Do not begin sentences with "therefore," "however," "but"

17. Do not use the same word over and over. Use a thesaurus if you must

18. Each sentence should have a clear meaning

19. Paragraphs should have a unity of purpose, organization, and meaning and generally be longer than a
couple of sentences

20. Move clearly and thoughtfully from paragraph to paragraph (transitions in thought should be smooth
and organized)

21. Underline or italicize titles of books/journals. Use quotation marks for article titles, chapter titles, and
journals
22. Do not use slang or clichés

23. At end of a quotation, put a period or comma inside the marks (." And,") but colons and semicolons
out (": and ";)

24. Compound sentences need a comma and a conjunction between the independent clauses

25. "Less" refers to quantity; "fewer" refers to number

26. Do not ask rhetorical questions

27. Avoid abbreviations and do not use "Mr." or "Mrs."

28. Be respectful; do not refer to a person by a first name only

29. Do not split infinitives

30. Avoid using "this"

31. "Who" refers to people; "that" refers to things

32. Please "think," "believe," or "contend," but not "feel"

33. "Affect" and "effect" do not have the same meaning

34. Proofread to make sure all words are included in a sentence

35. Spell any number under 100 [e.g: fifty-six]

36. In a conversation, people expect you to explain what you mean. In an essay, I expect you will do the
same thing by employing evidence that backs up your argument.

I borrowed these tips from a friend, Dr. Mike Butler, who got them from Dr. Charles Eagles as a graduate
student at the University of Mississippi. I have slightly revised or added tips based on my own teaching
experiences.