Language and grammar

Writing well is hard. You need to know when to capitalize, when to abbreviate, when to use "one" and "1" and "compliment" and "complement" (to say nothing of actually getting your point across using the appropriate voice and tone). We'll cover some especially hot topics in this section, but we have neither the space nor inclination to get down to brass tacks on every last thing. Consider this chapter more of a guide to our in-house style. Everything you learned in high school still applies. These are just some things that crop up often and merit a bit of extra attention.

Further reading: If you really want to nerd out on this stuff, The Elements of Style, Grammar Girl, and the New Yorker's Comma Queen video blog (yes, really) are excellent resources. Or you can just install Grammarly and call it a day. 😉

General guidelines

1. Have something to say. This may seem obvious, but it bears mentioning. Without something to say, you'll end up with sentences that sound meaningful but ultimately amount to nothing. Read widely, take notes, choose your points thoughtfully. Then start writing.

2. Use simple words and short sentences. As George Orwell said: "Never use a long word where a short one will do." The same goes for sentences. Research shows that people understand less the more you write, so try to keep sentences to 25 words or less.

3. Focus your message. No matter how good a piece of content is, most people will only read about 25% of it. Lead with the most important information to ensure it gets read.

4. Cut the fat. The best writing is lean, clear, and concise. Modifiers like "very" and "a bit" add less than you think and often suck the life out of sentences. Reserve a round of edits for these unnecessary filler words and phrases.

5. Be open and receptive to feedback. Everyone (yes, everyone) writes crappy first drafts. The beauty of writing is that it's iterative. Write a draft, gather feedback, revise, and polish to a sheen.