11 Smart Tips for Brilliant

Writing
by DEAN RIECK
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Do you sound smarter when you use big words?

According to a study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology , the answer is no.
In fact, complex writing makes you sound small-minded. Just consider the title of the
study: Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity:
problems with using long words needlessly.
Wouldnt it be better to title this study something like The effect of using big words
when you dont need them?
To sound smart, you must stop trying to sound smart. Brilliant writing is simple
writing, a relevant idea delivered clearly and directly.
Here are 11 ways you can start sounding brilliant:

1. Have something to say

This makes writing easier and faster. When you have nothing to say, you are forced
to write sentences that sound meaningful but deliver nothing.
Read widely. Take notes. Choose your subjects wisely. Then share your information
with readers.

2. Be specific
Consider two sentences:

I grow lots of flowers in my back yard.

I grow 34 varieties of flowers in my back yard, including pink coneflowers,

purple asters, yellow daylilies, Shasta daisies, and climbing clematis.

Which is more interesting? Which helps you see my back yard?

3. Choose simple words

Write use instead of utilize, near instead of close proximity, help instead
offacilitate, for instead of in the amount of, start instead of commence.
Use longer words only if your meaning is so specific no other words will do.

4. Write short sentences

You should keep sentences short for the same reason you keep paragraphs short:
theyre easier to read and understand.
Each sentence should have one simple thought. More than that creates complexity
and invites confusion.

5. Use the active voice

In English, readers prefer the SVO sentence sequence: Subject, Verb, Object. This is
the active voice.
For example:
Passive sentences bore people.
When you reverse the active sequence, you have the OVS or passive sequence:
Object, Verb, Subject.
For example:
People are bored by passive sentences.
You cant always use the active voice, but most writers should use it more often.

6. Keep paragraphs short

Look at any newspaper and notice the short paragraphs.
Thats done to make reading easier, because our brains take in information better
when its broken into small chunks.

In academic writing, each paragraph develops one idea and often includes many
sentences. But in casual, everyday writing, the style is less formal and paragraphs
may be as short as a single sentence or even a single word.
See?

7. Eliminate fluff words

Qualifying words, such as very, little, and rather, add nothing to your meaning and
suck the life out of your sentences.
For example:
It is very important to basically avoid fluff words because they are rather empty and
sometimes a little distracting.
Mark Twain suggested that you should Substitute damn every time youre inclined to
write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.

8. Dont ramble
Rambling is a big problem for many writers. Not as big as some other problems, such
as affordable health insurance or the Middle East, which has been a problem for
many decades because of disputes over territory. Speaking of which, the word
territory has an interesting word origin from terra, meaning earth.
But the point is, dont ramble.

9. Dont be redundant or repeat yourself

Also, dont keep writing the same thing over and over and over. In other words, say
something once rather than several times. Because when you repeat yourself or
keep writing the same thing, your readers go to sleep.

10. Dont over write

This is a symptom of having too little to say or too much ego.
Put your reader first. Put yourself in the background. Focus on the message.
For example:

You can instantly and dramatically improve your blog writing skills and immediately
explode your profits and skyrocket your online success by following the spectacular,
simple, and practical tips found in this groundbreaking new free blog post.

11. Edit ruthlessly

Shorten, delete, and rewrite anything that does not add to the meaning. Its okay to
write in a casual style, but dont inject extra words without good reason.
To make this easier, break your writing into three steps: 1) Write the entire text. 2) Set
your text aside for a few hours or days. 3) Return to your text fresh and edit.
None of us can ever be perfect writers, and no one expects us to be. However, we
can all improve our style and sound smarter by following these tips and writing
naturally.
About the Author: Dean Rieck delivers brilliant writing to his clients and shares
copywriting tips for smart copywriters like you at Pro Copy Tips.

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Comments

1.

MDB
April 7, 2010 at 8:15 am
I think one big word is good, people that use many risk alienating readers. I enjoy
articles that have one big word that fits perfectly. It makes me feel the article was
worthwhile (I learned something), no matter what.

2.

ANDREW @ BLOGGING GUIDE

April 7, 2010 at 8:17 am
At school, I loved maths/science and hated English. My writing was bad. I felt stupid
because all the other kids used long words.
Then a few years ago, a good friend of mine, who is a confidence coach, simply told
me I was much better understood by others because I used plain and simple
words. none of these pompous long words.
It took someone else to point out my simple writing strength.
Andrew
JEF MENGUIN

September 4, 2010 at 1:29 pm

Friends usually praise me for using simple words in my writing. They said they
wanted to learn how to do it. So, they asked me to teach them.
I told them that my writing vocabulary is very limited. I have no other choice
but to use simple words. Those are the only words I know.
Jef Menguin
3.

RAUL SIM
April 7, 2010 at 8:18 am

After all, everything is about simplicity.

Less is more!
4.

DAVE (MISTERGOODGUY)
April 7, 2010 at 8:19 am
Some writers seem to use rambling for comic effect and it seems to work quite well
for them but perhaps it only works for those with an established audience who have
come to expect it??
I confess that I fall foul of most of the tips above.

BILL CANADAY, 2011

January 1, 2011 at 6:15 pm

Basically rambling only works when the intent is humor. It distracts us from
an initial point, sometimes returning us there via a circuitous route, sometimes
dropping us off at the head of a totally new pathway. Handled with care, it can
leave the reader saying hmph to himself as he grins at being cleverly tricked.
Handled poorly, it can be accompanied by the sound of a book being
slammed shut and tossed into the fire.
I ramble far too much. Not because I have nothing to say or am pretentious,
but because I have ADD and thats the way my brain works. I think that I get
more ideas on paper faster than most people, but I think it likely that I spend
more time editing in order to get decent copy, too.
o

HEATHER

August 4, 2011 at 3:13 am

I ramble a ton, and like Bill its not to be egotistical or for filler (typically), its
just that is how Ive always written. I actually do write with a personal style, but
part of my personal style IS my rambling. However, perhaps that should be my
next elimination round for re-writing since I get less than 50 VIEWS not
visits, not subscribers, but VIEWS a day. My HIGHEST has been 75 VIEWS in
a day. No subscribers.
The more I read about other peoples blogs, the more envious I get.
But, I will also say that Ive been too heavy handed on the good grammar
aspect of using 4-6 sentence paragraphs, instead of limiting my paragraphs to
a just a few sentences if that was all that was necessary.
There I go rambling again. =P
5.

KIESHA @ WE BLOG BETTER

April 7, 2010 at 8:24 am
I hope this post goes viral today these tips are what strong writers do every day.
Saying more with less is the best kind of writing. I think thats why enjoy blog writing
because the whole point is to say as much as you can in the smallest space.
What good are big words if they dont add clarity?

6.

JOSH GARCIA
April 7, 2010 at 8:25 am
Hey Dean,
Thanks for putting this list together. Now, I must apply it!
Information like this is priceless!
Chat with you later
Josh
o

HEATHER

August 4, 2011 at 3:14 am

I think you just succeeded in every single one of these tips.
7.

ANA YOURNETBIZ SYSTEM

April 7, 2010 at 8:30 am
Love Mark Twains quote.
By the way, could brilliant be considered a fluff word in some context?

Ana/YourNetBiz
8.

SABINA
April 7, 2010 at 8:31 am
This is very useful advice. I find your posts almost always help me. Thank you!

9.

CHRIS BAUMLI
April 7, 2010 at 8:34 am
Damn fine article Mark Twain would be proud!

10.

WILLIE HEWES
April 7, 2010 at 8:34 am
I think the title of that study is really clever, though. How often are the titles of studies
funny, while also clearly illustrating the point of the study? Full points!
I know its widely accepted writing tips gospel, but Im still unconvinced by the
passive voice must be avoided! rule of writing. See, when I was taught English (as
a foreign language), I was told, in English, the passive voice is used very often so
you will have to learn how to use it. I did, like a good little student, only to be told
later in life I should stop!

Did the last paragraph really bore you that much? (Did you even notice?) Is the
active form really always better? Where did this anti-passive sentiment start?
I realise you may not have the answers, but Ive long wondered, so if you do, fill me
in!
JEF MENGUIN

September 4, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Passive voice has its own place. It is very useful when you are describing a
process or when the doer of the action is not as important as the result.
11.

BEKI
April 7, 2010 at 8:35 am
I love the big words. Love them. But I tend not to write them so much as I would
speak them, so its not a problem in my blogging.
Just two days ago I was reading Ray Bradburys Zen and the Art of Writing and a
maxim jumped right out at me: when you write quickly, you write honestly. I love
that. Its both true and useful. And to follow along with todays point, when you write
quickly, you cant stuff your writing full of multi-syllabic nonsense someone else cant
easily decipher.
Good post!

12.

JON-MIKEL BAILEY
April 7, 2010 at 8:43 am
These are brilliant tips! Anyone of our clients writing copy for their site could benefit
from this. Thanks!

13.

ALITA
April 7, 2010 at 8:45 am

Interesting. Im translator, and when we speak about these online writing news and
challenges of the unknown, it seems that both languages coincide. The same
principles apply to my native language (Spanish).
Im ready to read the next 11 tips!
Thank you!
14.

STEINAR KNUTSEN
April 7, 2010 at 8:47 am
Great advice. I find audio transcription a useful technique to avoid unnatural
language, thus my writing comes across more conversational. A great iPhone app for
this is Dragon Dictation.

15.

SUSAN
April 7, 2010 at 8:52 am
Great tips! As a psychologist I know of the big wordsand they do bore me! Even
though I understand the words, I skim over much of them to get to the point. Which
might be a the 12th tip here: Get to the point and be done with it!

16.

SHANE ARTHUR
April 7, 2010 at 8:57 am
Willie,
If for nothing else, avoid the passive voice since politicians use it to get around tough
questions.

Politicians know its easy to leave the actor out of passive sentences to avoid
mentioning who is responsible for certain actions.
17.

WILLIE HEWES
April 7, 2010 at 9:02 am

Im a civil servant. I know all about leaving the actor out of sentences, but does that
mean the active voice is always better? Is the problem the voice, or the avoidance?
Its perfectly possible to avoid identifying the actor when writing in the active voice. I
did it just now.
Politicians also use soap. Should I stop?
18.

JOSHUA BLACK | UNDERDOG MILLIONAIRE

April 7, 2010 at 9:10 am
There is only a small handful of people that have their clocks wound through big
words.
The rest of our customers just want to hear us speak in everyday language. When I
write copy I like to pretend that I am writing a letter to my grandmother. If she would
get what Im saying then I know it worked.
Great post. Very concise and packed with valuable tidbits.
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire

19.

DEBORAH
April 7, 2010 at 9:16 am
Its great how you made your point both in words and in this blog. Nice job!

20.

SHANE ARTHUR
April 7, 2010 at 9:18 am
@willie. Im no active voice extremist, but active rules!
politicians also use soap. Should I stop?

Didnt you mean, The soap was used by the politicians. Should I be stopped by
that?

21.

ANDREW BILLMANN
April 7, 2010 at 9:23 am
Thank you, Dean. Ive been reading your stuff for 15 years or more (a yellowed tornout page from an old DM News confirms this), and youre always right on. Too many
writers, I think, begin with the goal of impressing their audiences. The real goal is
communication.

22.

CHUNG BEY LUEN

April 7, 2010 at 9:27 am
I always keep in mind that I should write simple words and short sentences when Im
writing.

23.

SONIA SIMONE
April 7, 2010 at 9:30 am
@willie, passive voice isnt always a bad thing. But in general, I agree with Shane &
Dean, active voice is clearer and it always identify who or what is doing the action of
the sentence.
Too often, passive voice is used to keep from getting clear about whats actually
going on. The classic example being mistakes were made. Well ok, thats helpful in
one sense, but it would be good to know who made them.
The reason so many writing teachers recommend reworking passive to active is its a
quick way to make your writing simpler and more direct. I like the way Dean framed
it, rather than saying its always wrong.

24.

CHARLES
April 7, 2010 at 9:44 am

Excellent and immediately useful tips. Novice blogger.

25.

BENJAMIN STEVENS
April 7, 2010 at 9:45 am
Nice post. I see a conflict between #2 and #4. In example #2, you take a sentence
and make a paragraph out of it.
In #4, you advise shorter sentences.
I think the example in #2 would have worked better if you had found a way to use
several short sentences to flesh out the description.
Im a nit picker.
Benjie
o

MINNIE GUPTA

May 1, 2012 at 10:43 am

Benjie, I beg to disagree, there is no conflict. Adjectives and adverbs are two
different things. He advises against using unnecessary words and keep it to
the point, not do away with subject matter altogether.
26.

JON TREMAIN
April 7, 2010 at 9:56 am
Probably one of my biggest downfalls is being a little too stiff in my writing style. I
appreciate your tips Dean. I think we all know many of these things. Ill be very good
at my writing for day, then start to get carried away and back into bad habits. Nice
refresher.

27.

BOB SCOTNEY
April 7, 2010 at 10:01 am

Sesquipedalian means the use of especially big or long words. You should
assiduously eschew obfuscatory prolixity and hyperverbosity.
28.

STEVE BENEDICT
April 7, 2010 at 10:08 am
Your post was very good, Dean. A nice, clean, spare writing style is something to be
envied. I go in spurts. When I organize myself and clear my head, I do well. My
thoughts flow and I lose myself in my writing. I glance at the clock and realize Ive
been writing and editing the same piece for 2 hours. I feel good about the end result.
Then, the next day, things may go all to heck in a handcart. I allow the tyranny of the
urgent to take over and find myself racing to get things done. My work suffers, my
desk gets more cluttered and I get so scattered I dont do anything particularly well.
Thats when I pull back and decide to let my writing take a breather, while I catch up
on other things. I dont allow myself to turn out garbage. When Im back to the right
place in my head, I start writing again.
Thanks for the reminders and the little insights.
Steve Benedict

29.

JAMES FREY
April 7, 2010 at 10:17 am
To take a page from Hemingway good post! Time to drink.

30.

NANCYS
April 7, 2010 at 10:19 am
You are singing my song. I read so much tangled writing every day that my eyes hurt.

31.

SONIA SIMONE
April 7, 2010 at 10:24 am

@Bob, thanks for the reminder about a word I happen to love!

@James, laughing, thanks.
32.

JOSH HANAGARNE
April 7, 2010 at 10:27 am
As a grammar lover, librarian, Mark Twain fan, and nit-picker, I love everything about
the post.
I recently learned that there is now an opera based on Strunks The Elements of
Style, for anyone who just cant get through the book:)

33.

SHANE ARTHUR
April 7, 2010 at 10:36 am
ps. Active voice cuts down on word count, too. At 8 cents per word, that can add up
with the proofer.

34.

WILLIE HEWES
April 7, 2010 at 10:37 am
OK, well, Im not trying to start the passive voice appreciation society here (although
I do think its been unneccesarily hated on by some).
And, yes, the passive voice can be and is used to obfuscate. Sometimes, though,
who is doing the obfuscating (for example) is either unimportant or really obvious
(here its clearly the aforementioned soap-using politicians). (The bastards.)
I guess my main issue with avoid the passive voice as writing advice is that for
many of us, determining whether a sentence is in active or passive voice is a nontrivial task. It is a non-trivial task to me, and Im *good* at grammar.
Instead of spending time working out whether each of your sentences is active or
passive, is it not more efficient to hunt for things that are unclear, or wordy, or that
sound like a civil servant wrote it?

35.

SHANNON O | CONFESSIONS OF A LOVING WIFE

April 7, 2010 at 10:38 am
Great tips to keep in mind, especially number 4 I am Queen of the never ending
sentence.

36.

KATHLEEN INGLIS
April 7, 2010 at 10:45 am
I think these are all very useful tips thanks for sharing. The advice on short
sentences, paragraphs and not writing too much are something I think would make a
lot of blogs a lot better and are sins I often fall foul of myself (I am a chronic overwriter).
Josh, is that opera real? Im the kind of word geek whod go and see it!

37.

GOOP
April 7, 2010 at 10:50 am
Ill definitely apply these tips. Thanks for posting it! More power! (^_^)

38.

SHANE ARTHUR
April 7, 2010 at 10:56 am
@Willie, it only takes a few seconds to erase passive.
In your word processor, do a search for any form of to be (ex. is, are, am, was,
were, has been, have been, had been, will be, can be, should be, would be.). If
verbs follow these words, its probably passive voice.
To establish niche authority, we need to write with authority. And, yes, youre making
me laugh (Josh, too).

39.

MARGO KIPPS

April 7, 2010 at 10:56 am

Passive voice is to be avoided because many extra syllables are added for it to be
accomplished.
Avoid passive voice, which adds many extra syllables. (43% difference)
As for the big words and complex sentence issues while thesauritis and inelegant
subordination can lead to obsfucation, we have 800,000 words to choose from and
complex ideas to convey. Simple sentences cannot express complex, subtle
relationships. The world of ideas should not be limited to a 4th grade reading level.
40.

SHAWNA R. B. ATTEBERRY
April 7, 2010 at 11:09 am
Great article. I noticed Im doing a couple of these things. I need to stop.
Another thing to add to Edit Ruthlessly: read your copy out loud. One of the quickest
ways to catch all the points that come before 11.

41.

VIRTUALDAVIS
April 7, 2010 at 11:34 am
Great blogging advice! Ban the fluff, for sure. Be concise. Be simple if/when possible.
And *usually* brevity is helpful too, but rambling from time to time CAN be just what
the meandering flneur needs

42.

MIKE MCCREADY
April 7, 2010 at 11:40 am
This is right in line with the lessons from a business writing course Im taking. Whats
interesting is that I didnt realize that I was adding fluff words, cliches, etc. until after I
took the course. I now find myself auto-correcting my writing more.

Your tips are simple, but so valuable. I think more of us need these tips than we
realize.
Thanks for sharing.
43.

LEADERSHIP COACH
April 7, 2010 at 11:41 am
I do wish that Dean had a career in politics. It would be so good to hear less hot air
and more truth from those who are supposed to govern us.

44.

SUZANNE VARA
April 7, 2010 at 11:53 am
Dean
Love this as so many of us are guilty of these at one point or another. I am not a fan
of the big words as it do not find them to be very conversational. I do not necessarily
talk in big words so why would I write that way is sort of my model for writing. For me
it is not necessarily about looking smarter or not, it is about how I talk and
transferring that over to how I write.
These tips are ones to remember esp when we do start to ramble resists the
inviting temptation.
@SuzanneVara

45.

CHRIS MOWER
April 7, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Ive always been a believer in these suggestions. Always remembering to use them is
another question

46.

EUNUS HOSEN
April 7, 2010 at 12:13 pm

Is passive voice must have to be avoided? I think it shouldnt, because it is the

smartest way to keep long your article without adding some extra information.
47.

JASON EICHACKER
April 7, 2010 at 12:18 pm
I disagree with #3. I think some well-placed big words beg the reader to grow
instead of talking down. As mdb wrote in the first reply, it may ask them to learn
something new. Maybe I write to stir people differently, as Im sure personal style
creates its own parameters. I feel its most important to string words together in your
own voice.
Of course, Ive yet to really go out and develop an audience. I may adapt my view
when that time comes.

48.

DAVID 'BEAR' STANFORD

April 7, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Be succinct!

49.

KEN SIEW
April 7, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I got a kick out of this: Mark Twain suggested that you should Substitute damn
every time youre inclined to write very'; your editor will delete it and the writing will
be just as it should be.
Its damn good! [Edited: Its good; hmm it doesnt sound as good as it seems. This is
the case where you gotta keep the damn! Of course its not professional, but you
dont have to be.]
One side thought: Although many Copyblogger posts are driving home the same
messages, repetition is crucial in making the messages stick. Everytime I read a new
post, I get some new ideas to work on. This always happens even if Id already seen
the tips/advices tens of times.

50.

JASON EICHACKER
April 7, 2010 at 2:15 pm
After further consideration, I think the picture youre trying to paint is the guiding
principle.
You can say something takes hard work or be more descriptive and refer to
inglorious and unglamorous toil.
Again, it comes down to style. Just a second though to share.

51.

MIKE PAUL
April 7, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Great list of tips to keep us all focused. For those of us that had to write huge papers
in high school and college, writing so that most people can understand and enjoy
does not come naturally.
Weve been taught that you have to use flowery language and write above peoples
heads.
Do that online and youll have a bunch of bored readers. Keep things short,
interesting and to the point.
Talk soon,
Mike

52.

TEREZ
April 7, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Love this! Your first point is great. Have something worthwhile to say. When you do
have meaning behind your words, its easy to write simply and specifically. You know
your point. You get it across. Job well done.

53.

BEN GRIFFITHS

April 7, 2010 at 3:04 pm

My favorite: Shorten, delete, and rewrite anything that does not add to the meaning.
Its okay to write in a casual style, but dont inject extra words without good reason.
54.

VICKIE
April 7, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Im guilty of many of these, especially #s 5 and 7. But a bigger issue for me is trying
to balance writing for attorneys with good blogging. I can see how #3 makes sense
for content in general, but most of my clients prefer commence and similar words in
legal docs. I guess it means I must juggle 2 writing styles to blog well and satisfy my
clients. Thanks for the tips, timely as always!

55.

CHATTERBOX
April 7, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Great list

I am very new in the field of writing and I feel your post directly pointed out to me the
areas I need to work on.
Thank you for sharing those strategies

Cheers!!
56.

KRISTINA ALLEN
April 7, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Ive been thinking about this post all day. Every time I sat down to write something, I
double checked to be sure I wasnt using any $100 words. Its unlikely that I would,

but as a graduate student I have added a few academic terms to my vocabulary. I

would hate for them to slip in to everyday conversation!

57.

PETER PADILLA
April 7, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Great stuff. Short and sweet. Thank you.

58.

FRED @ SIGNED JERSEYS

April 7, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Great tips Dean. Ill keep an eye on my very, little and rather etc. I think Im guilty.
Ive never given much thought to the active vs passive voicing before either. Thanks
for posting.

59.

BRIAN SATTERLEE
April 7, 2010 at 4:51 pm
It is sometimes hard not to use big words to describe something It can be quicker
and more precise to use technical jargon and fancy words but you do have to get
your message across to your reader, who may not have the depth of your vocabulary.
Personally, I dont know many big words I think wordy is better than verbose
anyway, which is what I am becoming here

60.

MIKE KORNER
April 7, 2010 at 5:23 pm
@Dean Thanks for the article, and especially the damn fine Mark Twain quote. I
love it.
@WillieHewes My gripe with passive voice is that it usually hurts clarity. I agree
that determining whether a sentence is in active or passive voice is a non-trivial
task, so I let Microsoft Word help. I swear that its grammar checker draws immense
pleasure from harassing me about passive voice. I gripe, but my rewrite is usually

much clearer. Maybe your word processing software has a similar torture-the-writer
option. Word doesnt have an option to flag writing that sounds-like-a-civil-servantwrote-it though. Maybe in the next version

61.

STEFANIE
April 7, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Fantastic tips. Its essential to strike a balance between writing detailed, specific
points and eliminating grandiose phrasing.

62.

CHRIS BIRK
April 7, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Amen, Dean. Excellent post.

63.

KAT EDEN
April 7, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Theres nothing worse than trying to eke out a post when you have nothing to say!
Ive been guilty of it several times, but my new technique is to plan out (bullet point)
all my drafts on a Monday, then they simmer away in my mind and I fill in the gaps
later in the week. Its saving me a lot of time actually.

64.

LUCY SMITH
April 7, 2010 at 6:40 pm
I think that everyone who writes should read Stephen Kings On Writing, even if
youre not a fiction writer. He covers a lot of these tips, actually. I dont necessarily
agree with everything he says, like cutting all your adverbs (a well-placed one can be
handy), but since I read it I can see where Im going wrong and fix it and see how
much better it is afterwards.

65.

SIITA RIVAS
April 7, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Thanks Dean, your words have ignited a spark of responses hungry for simplified
expression. Me too as I struggle to find ways to describe the way something looks..
as in a product that effects a great look expressed as gorgeous..
Any thoughts as to expression of tired words so people dont switch off ?

66.

ME@NEPAL-KATHMANDU.COM
April 7, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Its an awesome article. I have been struggling to write these simple words and
explain correctly. Now, I have some idea and hopefully I will use on my website. I
have been writing a website on Nepal with lots of helpful informations. If you guys
could help me how to simplify my writing visiting my website that would be awesome.

67.

RICHARD SCOTT
April 7, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Holy crap! Love the tips, but I am not reading all these comments. lol. I would be
here for hours, and Im sure I would run across a few redundant things.
I love number 7. Eliminate the fluff. Cut it out. Chop it up. Anything that can help us
keep it simple, make it more readable and get our message across is a good lesson
to learn. Damn good!

68.

ERIKA BARBOSA
April 7, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Love the Mark Twain quote!
Simplicity is key.

69.

ANNA OLCESE

April 7, 2010 at 10:17 pm

Thanks for the great post! K.I.S.S. when you communicate.
70.

ARIJIT DAS
April 8, 2010 at 3:02 am
These Tips are very unique and easy to learn . I like it, Thanks for
sharing!!

71.

WILLIE HEWES
April 8, 2010 at 5:33 am
Word doesnt have an option to flag writing that sounds-like-a-civil-servant-wrote-it
though. Maybe in the next version.
They should totally build that. I might even use the programme if they did.

72.

PATRICK
April 8, 2010 at 7:15 am
I will never be able to write very again without thinking about Mark Twain.

73.

JACK
April 8, 2010 at 8:17 am
One of the other advantages of the Write Wait Edit approach is that you will
discover words that have been left out and should be there to complete a sentence.
The missing words are in your head when you write the article and when you review
it right after writing. The missing words are no longer in your head when you come
back later to review and edit the article.

74.

JULIE
April 8, 2010 at 8:30 am
Leaving the text and coming back later is a trick that I swear by. I also read text out
loud to spot errors.
Mark Twain cracks me up.

75.

NATE BALCOM
April 8, 2010 at 9:22 am
Good writing tips here. I do have a tendency of getting a little long winded some
times. How do you like Thesis? Im considering purchasing.

76.

JOHN PAUL AGUIAR

April 8, 2010 at 9:36 am
Luv 1 8 and 10
I guess having something to write SHOULD be your first step..lol

77.

HILARY WALKER
April 8, 2010 at 10:47 am
Thanks for firmly reminding me about what I know but tend to ignore!
Especially timely as I write monthly blogs and website articles for clients, as well as
myself. This will help me give them better value.

78.

FAIZ SUBERI
April 8, 2010 at 10:50 am
Excellent post Dean. The idea is to welcome readers and let them know that we are
just as ordinary as any other person. This keeps the readers coming back as having

simple English laid out enables more understanding, instantly encouraging him/her to
ENGAGE with the writer; which is important.
79.

MIKE BOTVINIK
April 8, 2010 at 2:04 pm
This is an interesting study. However, this seems to be stating the obvious.
Overusing complex terminology and vague adjectives definitely alienates the average
reader. Technical vernacular is appropriate for trade journals and other professional
publication but vague adjectives always make the writer seem less credible. I am a
journalism student at the University of Kansas and these are the types writing
guideline that were drilled into our brains during the first research and writing class
we were required to take. All these guidelines are basic AP and inverted pyramid
news writing styles. Nevertheless, it is nice to see one scientific field provide
legitimacy to the practices of another.

80.

CHAD GOEHRING
April 8, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I agree. Using complicated words only makes you sound like youre trying to be
smart as apposed to actually being smart. Got a chuckle out of See?

81.

SHERI WALLACE
April 8, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Thanks for this article. I really need it today, and I have it bookmarked. Awesome
tips.

82.

SUSAN
April 8, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Agreed! I feel the most inspired and creative when Im taking simple ideas and
turning them into fresh, exciting, new insight. Its the same with words. Its how you
use them together and develop the relationship between them. In a vaccum, words
mean nothing. Delicately crafted, theyre powerful tools.

83.

ALISON CLAYTON-SMITH
April 9, 2010 at 3:01 am
I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent and articulate person. But when I
read academic articles and journals I typically find them full of words that seem
designed to confuse. So a really useful application of these basic rules would be in
academic papers. Encourage understanding rather than show how clever you are.
By the way, love the site.

84.

SAMANTHA MILNER
April 9, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Hi guys,
These are some very good tips. Especially #1 Having Something To Say. Because
without this its a waste of time for you and your readers.
Kind regards,
Sam
X

85.

SANDEEP VADGAMA
April 11, 2010 at 11:08 am
Thank for the tips, there are many people like me who are not the best at writing but
we still want to express ourselves.
To writers these are already embedded in them, but for those who arent, it is always
great to see read them to start the process of having them naturally enforced in our
writing.
Thanks,
Sandeep.

86.

KAREN
April 11, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Simple, concise, brilliant.
Thank you.

87.

JASON
April 12, 2010 at 8:15 am
I am going to print this and hang it by my computer to serve as a reminder.
An important trick I see some great writers use is rhythm. They use words like a paint
brush and are able make something boring or difficult easier to read. I compare to a
photograph of an ugly person wearing a nice shirt.

88.

FARNOOSH ~ PROLIFIC LIVING

April 16, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Simply brilliant. A good reference would be On Writing Well, an excellent book
which covers many of these topics in such simplicity that you wonder why you didnt
remember them from high school or grammar school . (did they ever teach us that
stuff?) Thank you!

89.

ESTHER @ADD A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR

April 17, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Reading this was so refreshingThanks for the great content. Im going to print it
and keep it handy it was so good!

90.

ROD
April 19, 2010 at 11:11 am
Agree.

91.

JWS
July 29, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Well, I think its pretty clear from the subtitle of the study that the main title was a
joke
And while a conversational style of copy is more effective in general, I think how far
to go with that is dependent on the site that you are writing for. If Im writing copy for
a VoTech, I do not want to go overly verbose, but sounding like Im a teenager texting
my friends does not work either. And while I suppose it is ultimately true that you
have to take into account smaller and smaller vocabularies, sometimes it is just
easier and more efficient to use a big word.
o

BILL

April 23, 2011 at 3:10 pm

I try to use the simplest word that exactly fits the situation. Sometimes a
larger, less familiar word is the correct match. Dumbing down is not the
correct approach for everything.
If I were describing a General speaking to the Senate, at first I would have him
use military gobbledygook to try to BS the Senators (a pre-emptive counterstrike against the counter-insurgents*, for instance). Then, when the bull stuff
hit the PhD (Piled Higher & Deeper) levels, Id have the Senators interrupt him
for a definition in layman terms. The General might not even know the layman
terms so he/she would have to fumble in the simple-words backpack for
something that might be useful.
Finally, the Senators might choose to express their frustration and say
something to the effect of General, lets cut to the chase when you aim the
damned thing and pull the trigger, what in the hell is supposed to happen
next?
Is there a simpler term for gobbledygook? Definitely but youd have to
string a bunch of those simpler terms together to express the same thought
and that would NOT simplify either the writing or the reading.
There is concision in precision.

Use a large word when it suits the purpose better than a short word or a brief
phrase. Use the larger word when it will be understood by your audience at
least as readily as-a-bunch-of-small-words-piled-up-in-a-three-high-trafficaccident-just-before-the-full-stop.
Just my 2 cents worth.
*attacking the lawful government
92.

KAMAL HASA
July 31, 2010 at 9:31 am
Well I agree with this: Nobody can be perfect writers.
As time passes by we become aware of the mistakes what we do commonly and try
to correct it to improvise ourselves.

93.

BRAD
August 17, 2010 at 12:51 am
The word fat is a perfectly good one, but when it is hijacked by neo-puritans, with the
implication that slimness equates to virtue, we are on dangerous ground.

94.

TUTOR PHIL
August 21, 2010 at 9:04 am
I endorse this completely. This stuff is what I teach my essay writing students. I
wonder if all these are applicable to writing marketing copy.
Thanks

95.

ARUN KUMAR
August 31, 2010 at 2:59 am
Brilliant tips! These impart a lot of confidence into people like me, who would want to
try a hand at writing a blog.

Thanks!
96.

SUNNY SUMAN
October 25, 2010 at 6:44 am
I love to writesimple.
Earlier I used to feel I wasnt good at writing for I couldnt remember long words,
however much I had tried. Really, I had given a lot to digest long dictionary word so
that I could also write good. Somewhere inside I always hated looking into the
dictionary while reading books. And that was probably the reason why I could never
remember long words.
When I started with content writing job, I realized that: at least on the web, nobody is
going to sit with a dictionary to understand my text. I only use longer synonyms of
any simple word when the word itself has been already used. I, as a reader also,
want to read and understand a sentence in an instant. and want to build up a
similar content for all readersso now I love writing SIMPLE..
o

BILL

April 23, 2011 at 3:43 pm

The way to read a sentence in an instant ANY sentence is to build up
your vocabulary and grammar. The way to do that is to read material that is
challenging: not material with all the life sucked out of it by the keep it simple
police.
The way to limit your audience to those who can barely drool is to continually
accommodate the least literate of them. As we have seen on the internet, that
bar continually gets lower and lower. Its a race to the bottom. All you have to
do is find a line of fools, blow a whistle to get their attention, then walk away,
dropping marshmallows behind you. In the end, your readers will not be able
to understand you (in ANY language) and you will not be able to find simple
enough words to actually communicate anything beyond New!, Improved!.
Dont go there. Dont lower your own command of the language and dont talk
down to your readers. Yes, you will gain the less literate but it will come at

the expense of the more literate (who generally have more disposable
income).
Look at the ads for luxury automobiles. They generally have a few VERY well
chosen words. They arent afraid of tossing in foreign terms or using unusual
typefaces (which, I assure you, were as thoroughly tested as the words
themselves).
You will not become a better writer by abandoning your craft and aiming for
the bottom of the pile. You become a better writer by mastering your craft and
aiming at any part of the pile you choose.
97.

TOMATZSO
October 26, 2010 at 4:20 am
The tips above strike a chord. I love to read anything that neatly describes what I
already believe, but failed to put into words myself.

98.

KENNEDY
October 27, 2010 at 12:10 am
All these rules basically work together if you use one, often times, the rest will
follow. For example, if you work on 4. keeping it short, you will also avoid 7-10,
avoiding rambling, fluff, redundancy, and over writing. I agree that big words are not
always best, but Im not sure how I feel about steering clear of longer words.
Sometimes, I think utilize is an appropriate replacement for use. Use can sound
bland whereas utilize, if you ask me, falls under step 2 of being specific utilize
paints a more descriptive image for the reader.
Other than that, I think these 11 tips are simple and completely on target. Its hard to
disappoint when you follow guidelines as point-blank and directional as these. And
better yet, they apply to all forms or writing: blogs, memos, letters, documents,
anything.

99.

AMANDA
October 28, 2010 at 12:03 pm

The complex title that you described made me chuckle, and effectively got the point
across. I have always struggled with keeping my writing concise and clear. Your post
offers some great advice to students like me who are looking for ways to work on
their writing. Thanks for these tips. I always try to remember to cut out fat around my
message excess words that do not really add to the sentence. Its painful at first,
but I can notice the improvement after. Remembering these tips can really help
writers stand out, as you have described. Thanks again!
100.

MAUREEN DUDLEY (MAUREENDUDLEY ON TWITTER)

October 28, 2010 at 2:14 pm

These tips go right along with our firms motto: Speak clearly, if you speak at all;
carve every word before you let it fall. Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Thanks for the reminder.
Maureen Dudley of Dudley & Nunez Communications
101.

FRANKIE COOPER

November 11, 2010 at 11:39 am

Amazing tips that will give readers a more entertaining copy to read.
102.

NATE BALCOM

November 11, 2010 at 12:10 pm

Good tips. Now if I could just get my clients to read this and follow your advice. Keep
it simple and edit, edit, edit. Well written. Thanks for the post!
103.

SALWILLIAM

November 13, 2010 at 3:21 am

Even though I know a lot of this stuff intuitively, I feel its really helpful to see it listed
so clearly. This is a great article.

104.

DAVID

November 29, 2010 at 10:39 am

The overwriting part is helpful. I really like this blog. Excuse me I d@#$mn like this
blog.
Cheers DK
105.

CHARLYNE CHU

December 10, 2010 at 10:05 pm

I was taught English as a second language. And now Im excising my writing skills
working as an copywriter. These tips are really helpful.

106.

HANNAH

March 1, 2011 at 10:11 am

Thats a great list. A useful read for anybody who wishes to write well!
107.

RAKIB

April 16, 2011 at 10:20 pm

Dean,
I am agree with all of your views. As non-native speaker, we sometimes tend to use
some complex, unusual and metaphoric words to make our writing (so-called)
standardBut simplicity is the most powerful way in every step of our life
A must-read post
Thanks!
108.

BILL

April 23, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Ive added a couple counter-points to earlier comments. Now Id like to suggest a

#12. Shoot it down if you can.
Of those portions of the world who speak English, many of them speak it only as a
second tongue, a language of necessity. It has to do with English speaking people
having money and guns and a willingness to use one whenever the other fails to
achieve the desired results. Those who read your material in their native language
will bring a sense of gratitude and pride to the reading. This can result in sales that
would have otherwise been missed.
So, heres the proposed rule:
Even if you also post in English, do not neglect to post in your native tongue.
109.

CHRIS | MARKETINGHQ

April 26, 2011 at 6:09 am

Ive always found that less is often more. Simple words, short sentences will keep the
readers coming back. These are great tips

110.

JANET PEISCHEL

April 26, 2011 at 10:40 am

Keep it short. Its much harder to write a little than a lot. Editing may be harder than
writing. Read my blog, The Pragmatic Marketer for insights and tips.
111.

RICHARD

April 27, 2011 at 2:11 am

Excellent tips to be mindful of. Sometimes I tend to write sentences too long. I can
see the gist of writing small sentences. Choice.
Richard

112.

PAUL

May 14, 2011 at 10:12 am

I find your advice useful. The article itself followed the rules you outlined. Good
articles dont need to take forever to read.
113.

MICHEAL ALLEN

May 17, 2011 at 4:11 pm

Some fantastic tips in this article especially the passive voice , this is a mistake I
always make in writing ,Thank you for sharing.
114.

VLADIMIR

June 6, 2011 at 9:58 pm

Amazing article, and the Tips are just so juicy and easy to understand.
Thank You very much!
115.

MARY BAUM

July 26, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Fun fact of the day: utilize doesnt even mean use. It means to use in a novel way.
If you put cereal in a bowl, youre not utilizing it. If you put the bowl on your head to
use as a guide for cutting hair, youre probably also not utilizing it lots of people
have done that before. If you put the bowl on your head and then dangle a chain
from your ear and pretend to be a lamp, while someone takes a picture, maybe then
youre utilizing the bowl.
So 90% of the time, if youre using the word utilize, you probably shouldnt be.
Also notice the single quotes around the words? Double quotes are for quotations,
not emphasis. And, yeah, bold would be better still. Oh, gee! Look at the time!

I feel better now.

116.

KYLA

August 21, 2011 at 7:13 pm

I think it all depends on context, though. IMHO, big words can make you seem
smarter, if you slip them in amidst a bunch of smaller ones. Its overkill that murders
your prose. Not the use of big words.
Anyway, thanks for this great article. Brevity is not my strong point. I like long
sentences. A lot. I have to resist the urge to use them quite often. I fail more often
than not, however, and thats why I must humbly thank you for this perfect article on
the subject. Maybe this time the advice will go to heart.
Probably not.
Have a great day, and happy writing!
117.

PAUL

September 20, 2011 at 7:26 pm

Simplicity is complicated.
118.

SUDHA

October 28, 2011 at 1:39 am

A great post important thing is to apply it!
119.

NAIJADOTCOM

December 5, 2011 at 5:54 am

Rightly said all well put together,Great post.

120.

EJONES

December 13, 2011 at 12:42 pm

This was overall a very informative article, but I must disagree with you over the title
of that study you cited. I believe the authors were using a little tongue-in-cheek
humor to further emphasize what they found in their study Im surprised you didnt
pick up on that.
121.

PINKAY

December 15, 2011 at 4:53 pm

I should have read this before I started writing and blogging. Now i know exactly what
to do and forget about high sounding words that always make me freak out before I
even go half way of my articles. I thought and many people think too that using big
words is the way to effective writing. Thank you for a very informative article that
writers could use to improve their writing.
122.

SANJAY NAIR

February 13, 2012 at 5:47 am

I have always used simple words in my copy. But at times you risk being labelled as
someone with a limited vocabulary. Cannot help but use some big words to make the
seemingly mundane copy better.
Good post!
123.

TASH HUGHES

February 19, 2012 at 7:50 pm

My argument has always been that even if you can understand all those big words,
do you want to wade through them? Especially if youre working to understand the
message itself or follow some instructions. Simple writing is easiest to read and
distracts less from the message so its great to see these tips available for people
wanting to improve their writing.

124.

JONATHAN SCOTT GRIFFIN

May 2, 2012 at 11:54 am

Okay, time for a difference of opinion. I dont agree with this article one-hundred
percent. While its true that there are good books that are straight to the point, whats
wrong with novels with big words and loads of description? I ask you all to truly think
about this. You say we should all use smaller words, less complex words. Well then,
why even have those big words in the dictionary if no one uses them? We might as
well make our dictionaries simpler if our vocabularies are going to be so. But in the
process, I feel, something terrible happens, our lives become a little less rich. So
what if novel makes use of big words? Reading words Im unfamiliar with has done
no harm to me, but encouraged me to look through a dictionary to find their
meanings. This in turn has enlivened my vocabulary and made my life all the more
richer and fulfilling. We should have the intelligence to learn new words, the mental
comprehension to do so.
Next issue I have with this article, the need to always write short sentences and
never to ramble. Again, why? Some of the greatest literature is incredibly wordy. Lets
take a look at Moby Dick. It rambles on and on. Some people hate, I admit it. But I
found the book to be thought-provoking in its wordiness. The same goes for Great
Expectations. These books, though wordy, allow to really reflect inner-thoughts in a
way I have found very meaningful. Books with loads of description, like Lord of the
Rings, with tons of sentences, going into detail descriptions on the lands alone, allow
me immerse myself in the fantasy land that Tolkien has created, something I find
fantasy books with shorter descriptions have not allowed me to do so. There is a
poetry to some of these long-winded novels, a beauty.
As I said before, straight to the point novels with little description and smaller words
are not bad novels. They can be very good novels. But wanting every novel to be
written like that smacks of something the fast food generation wants, something
called instant gratification. They want results now, they want their food now.
Sometimes I wonder if there is a correlation to the fast food generation to people
wanting their novels always simple and straight to the point. To say that novels
should only be written one way, which this article seems to be saying, is a disservice
to literature and its many diverse writers. I ask you all to think it over.
o

SONIA SIMONE

May 2, 2012 at 12:45 pm

Fair enough, Jonathan, except the article isnt about writing novels its
about writing content in service to a business.