Tighten your Prose

Before you call your work complete, here is a short list to consider for your work to be tighter.

  1. Make sure your nouns and verbs are strong
  2. Can you take the “s” off the word?
  3. In a list, make the words go from short to long (words or phrases)
  4. the <noun> of” = can you get rid of that phrase?
  5. avoid too many that’s, which’s and who’s
  6. most, very, quite and “-ly” words point to weak adjectives
  7. of the” shouldn’t be used because nothing moves
  8. in, on, to, at – drag a prose to a halt, don’t use these words
  9. be careful where you use that and which (change which to that)
  10. and – but (can indicate run-on sentences)
  11. that (unnecessary in most sentences)
  12. that (when you mean “who”)

Leave a comment if you find this list helpful!

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