Writing Tips and Resources


Have some favorite writing tips and strategies? Add them here! Use tags such as "sentencing," "grammar," "style," "structure," "logic," "brainstorming," and more, so the tips can be searched.

 

General

How to Avoid Being Fooled by Bad Writing Advice

What Are Your Favourite Books on Writing?

How To Write A Good First Line (For Books, Novels, Short Stories, Essays, and Articles)

Final Guidance on Implementing the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (PDF)

 

Style

Commonly confused words

Differences Between 'The Yahoo! Style Guide' and 'The Associated Press Stylebook' But which one is right?

General Style Considerations

Common Errors in English Usage

The Chicago Manual of Style Online
The Elements of Style

 

Grammar and Punctuation

Good grammar does not equal good writing! From The Economist

And you call yourself a prescriptivist? John McIntyre, Baltimore Sun

Charles McGrath, Death-Knell. Or Death Knell, an article on the hyphen

When commas are crucial to comprehension, Language Log blog post

Online guide to grammar and writing
Daily Writing Tips
Grammar Girl
The Grammarphobia Blog
Mighty Red Pen
Crystal Clear Proofing

 

Generating Ideas 

Stumped? Get over the hurdle.

Mapping

Outlining

Articles on information overload

 

Editing and Proofreading

Have Your Computer Read Your Writing Back to You

An Editing Checklist

Proofreading Your Writing The Owl at Purdue

 

Writers on Writing

Russell Baker, How to Punctuate

Kevin Cullen, You want grammar, or writing?: It's not always a good idea to follow the rules.

Stuart Froman, 10 Tips for Writing About Technology

Donald Hall, Bring Back the "Out-Loud" Culture

Paul McHenry Roberts, How to Say Nothing in Five Hundred Words (tips for freshman comp essays)

 

General Press Release Tips

Building a Standard Release

Search Engine Optimization

Social Media Release

The Changing Press Release

Press Release Grader (Useful information but it's only software)

 

Links for Writers

Information for Writers

Online Reference

Organizations

Bookstores

Communications and Education

 

Have Some Fun

8 New Punctuation Marks We Desperately Need